Environment Minister Kevin Klein's claim to be Métis denounced by brother, Manitoba Métis Federation
Premier Heather Stefanson said Klein is 1 of 2 Indigenous members of her caucus
The Manitoba government's website continues to identify Environment Minister Kevin Klein as Métis, even though the president of the Manitoba Métis Federation, a prominent Métis lawyer and Klein's own brother all dispute the claim.
"The basis for stating Mr. Klein as Indigenous is because he has publicly identified himself as a Canadian Métis," a spokesperson for Premier Heather Stefanson wrote in January.
Klein says he belongs to the Painted Feather Woodland Métis. The entity is not recognized by the Manitoba Métis Federation or the Métis Nation of Ontario. It's a for-profit company based out of a single-family residence near Bancroft, Ont., just over 250 kilometres northeast of Toronto.
Klein says he claims to be Métis as a connection to his late mother, whom he has publicly identified as Indigenous.
"I'm not self-identifying, nor am I using it, nor am I mentioning it every time I open my mouth. It is a family issue for me and a connection to my mother," Klein said in an interview during his run for mayor last fall.
Contacted by CBC News, Klein's brother, Christopher Rout, said he does not consider himself, his brother or his mother Métis.
"I remember learning about Métis in school. I think I would have learned something then and been told something, but no. No, we're not Métis," Rout said in an interview with CBC News. He would seek Métis citizenship if he were eligible, he said.
Rout is Klein's younger brother and although they have the same parents, their surnames are different. Klein officially changed his name from Harold Kevin Rout Jr. to Kevin Elvis Klein sometime before his second marriage in 1994, according to the marriage certificate.
Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand told CBC after a request for comment that he disputes Klein's claim to be Métis.
"Kevin Klein simply does not meet our criteria. We do not recognize the Painted Feather Woodlands Métis or any other group that claims Métis identity outside our definition. This is no different than any of the other cases where groups or individuals are calling themselves Métis when they really mean mixed heritage," Chartrand wrote in an email to CBC News.
The
flags in this family tree denote the country of birth of Klein's
ancestors. CBC used modern-day flags to represent birthplaces. (CBC )
Genealogical research done by CBC News — some going back five generations — did not find any evidence Klein's mother has a Métis or other Indigenous ancestor.
Census and other historical records say most of Klein's maternal ancestors came to Canada from England or Ireland.
His relative who most recently immigrated to Canada was his great-grandfather born in 1889, who came from Jersey, one of the British Islands. Two of his great-grandmother's grandparents were born in England, the other two in Ireland.
The only one of Klein's ancestors whose roots were not traced back overseas was his great-grandmother born in 1875, whose death certificate indicated her racial origin is English. Her grandparents, three of whom were born in the U.S. and the other in Canada, all said they were not "Indian" in the 1861 census.
This
excerpt of the 1931 census shows Klein's great-grandparents Richard
Winacott and Annie Winacott (née Davis), and Klein's grandfather
Melrose, a.k.a. Mike. The racial origin for all three is listed as
English. This is one of dozens of historical records reviewed by CBC
News. (Government of Canada)
Premier Stefanson said Klein is one of two Indigenous MLAs in the Progressive Conservative caucus in an interview in January. She also stressed the importance of having Indigenous representation in her party to more accurately reflect the population of the province.
"We need to attract more Indigenous candidates and we are working towards that … more diversity within our candidate selection," Stefanson said.
When informed about the lack of proof of Klein's Métis ancestry and the statements by Chartrand and Klein's brother, a spokesperson who responded on behalf of Stefanson declined to say whether the premier still considers Klein to be an Indigenous PC caucus member.
"As we have worked hard to become Manitoba's most diverse party, we are proud to have the first ever Muslim minister of the Crown, first Black minister and first woman premier in our caucus. Minister Klein is on the record stating clearly he is on a personal journey, and his ancestry is not for political gain," the spokesperson wrote.
WATCH | Premier Heather Stefanson identifies Kevin Klein as Indigenous:
The spokesperson said the premier is satisfied with the vetting of PC Party candidates, but questioned whether New Democrats are satisfied with their candidate vetting process in light of revelations in 2017 about NDP Leader Wab Kinew's criminal convictions and stayed domestic violence charges from about two decades ago.
Métis lawyer Jean Teillet, who is Louis Riel's great-grandniece, says universities, governments and other institutions are currently trying to recruit Indigenous people, which could give a candidate who claims to be Indigenous an advantage in an interview.
Teillet said it also benefits the PC party.
"They stand up and they say, 'We've got Indigenous people, see, we're not acting against Indigenous people because we've got Indigenous people in our party. Look, and they speak for their people.'"
'Métis' disappears
This past year, Klein ran back-to-back campaigns in Winnipeg, which 2021 Statistics Canada data says has Canada's highest population of Indigenous residents.
His failed bid for mayor was followed by a victory in the Kirkfield Park provincial byelection.
At different stages of the campaigns, Klein identified himself as a "proud Métis Canadian" on his X, formerly known as Twitter, account and his website.
Over the course of the past several months, the word Métis has been removed from Klein's personal accounts — first from his X biography, then from his personal website — but the government record hasn't changed.
Kevin
Klein posted this photo on his X, formerly known as Twitter, account on
Aug. 2, 2022, with the caption: 'Being a proud Métis Canadian I wanted
to make my first @Folklorama stop the Métis pavilion, and it was
awesome. Good food, good people, good crafts, and a great show.
Including the winners of @CanGotTalent from this year.' (KevinKleinwpg/X)
When Klein was named to cabinet at the end of January, the government issued a news release with background information that says, "Klein is a proud Métis Canadian and continues to explore, working with Elders in Manitoba to research his connections to Indigenous community." His bios on his official government web page and on the Progressive Conservative Party site also contain that exact phrase.
When CBC News asked Klein for an interview to elaborate on the biography in the province's news release, his press secretary said he is not available and that his "bio seems to be self-explanatory."
When asked by CBC News why the word Métis was removed from Klein's personal website, Klein's press secretary wrote, "As Minister Klein has stated before: 'As I have indicated on several occasions, this is a private and personal journey.'"
His personal website has since changed again: "Connecting with my Indigenous heritage helps put life into context," it now says, along with a "Re-elect Kevin Klein" banner at the top.
Screenshots
show Kevin Klein's personal website during his mayoral run, during his
run for MLA of Kirkfield Park and after he won his seat in the
legislature. The word Métis was removed from his website sometime after
he was elected. (Kevinklein.ca)
Klein, 58, has talked with media in the past about his membership card from the Painted Feather Woodland Métis, a group not recognized by the Manitoba Métis Federation or the Métis Nation of Ontario.
According to the Government of Canada, the only groups allowed to determine who is Métis with rights under the Constitution are the Métis Nation of Alberta, the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, the Métis Nation British Columbia and the Métis Nation of Ontario.
- Two mayoral candidates vying to become Winnipeg's second Indigenous mayor
- Métis Nation of Ontario votes to boot members with incomplete files
Under a 2003 Supreme Court of Canada decision won by Teillet, a process called the Powley test determines whether an individual can be considered Métis with rights under Section 35 of the Constitution. Section 35 recognizes existing "aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal people of Canada," without going into specifics of what those rights entail.
Part of the Powley test spells out the criteria for eligibility: a person must identify as Métis, must be an accepted member of a present-day Métis community and must have ties to a historic Métis community.
Environment
Minister Kevin Klein's official biography in the cabinet ministers'
section of the government of Manitoba website says he is a 'proud Métis
Canadian.' On his current personal site, he recently added 'connecting
with my Indigenous heritage helps put life into context.' (Government of Manitoba/kevinklein.ca)
Painted Feather Woodland Métis rejects what it calls "unduly restrictive and unfair" definitions of who is Métis and states its definition is "simple — anyone with an aboriginal ancestor," says the company's website, which lists fees ranging from $57 to $320, plus provincial sales tax, for membership for adults.
Painted Feather declined an interview in the past, sending CBC News to its website for information.
Klein has said he did not claim to be Métis for political reasons, and he got his membership card before he entered politics.
Understanding that the issue of Indigenous ancestry is complex, CBC News undertook its research in consultation with Indigenous experts and journalists.
As an elected minister of the Manitoba government, Klein's claims are subject to the same type of scrutiny routinely applied to high-ranking elected officials by journalists.
Klein's lawyer says issue 'personal'
Since becoming a cabinet minister, Klein has declined to be interviewed about new information CBC News has obtained about his claim of Métis heritage.
Klein's counsel, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman lawyer Sacha Paul, sent a letter in April asking CBC News to stop asking about his heritage and to cease contacting Klein's relatives about this topic.
Klein's
lawyer Sacha Paul is a partner with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman and the
past president of the Manitoba Law Society. He's a member of the English
River First Nation, a Dene community in Saskatchewan, his firm's web
page says. (tdslaw.com)
"I am advised by Mr. Klein that the matter of his Indigenous heritage is indeed personal and that Mr. Klein's campaign material is not highlighting his connection to his Indigenous ancestry," Paul wrote.
Red flags
Jean Teillet said "once all of us can claim to be Indigenous for whatever reason, then there will be no more Indigenous people, because we will all be Indigenous."
She says it's harmful because it's another step in eradicating Indigenous people, a process she calls "reverse assimilation."
Teillet was appointed as an independent investigator by the University of Saskatchewan to figure out how to prevent illegitimate claims to Indigeneity in the wake of professor Carrie Bourassa being put on leave and eventually resigning from her positions after a CBC investigation found no evidence that she had Indigenous ancestry.
Canada
Life announced a $500,000 investment for a new Indigenous-led student
mentorship program at Red River College Polytechnic at the end of June.
Environment Minister Kevin Klein is pictured second from the left. (CNW Group/Canada Life)
The Painted Feather Woodland Métis is one of many organizations that have "sprung up" since 2002 that "have a very, very loose definition of what they call Métis, which is basically anyone who has any tiny amount of Indigenous ancestry," Teillet said.
Teillet's report for the University of Saskatchewan, titled Indigenous Identity Fraud, found similarities between multiple cases of illegitimate claims of Indigeneity, which she calls "red flags."
During his mayoral run, Klein told Dorothy Dobbie in an article for What's Up Winnipeg that he took a University of Alberta Indigenous course "to learn more about his Métis and Cree background."
"Blond and blue-eyed Indigenous people were not uncommon among certain groups in middle America. His family says his roots are evident in his cheekbones which Kevin says he could never produce a proper beard!" wrote Dobbie, a former Progressive Conservative MP who wrote the profile about Klein before the civic election.
Shifting Indigenous identities raise red flags, Teillet wrote in her report for the University of Saskatchewan.
"They shift their stories because people challenged them. Joseph Boyden was a perfect example. I think he had, like, 10 different identities over the years," Teillet said in an interview.
An APTN investigation found no evidence Boyden, who has written books that centre on Indigenous characters and culture, has any Indigenous ancestors.
"If [Klein] follows the pattern that all the others have followed, he'll keep shifting his stories again and again and again," Teillet said.
- Author Joseph Boyden defends Indigenous heritage after investigation
- Indigenous identity and the case of Joseph Boyden
When people who self-proclaim as Indigenous without verification speak for Indigenous people, it results in Indigenous people not being heard, Teillet said.
"Every time that someone like that speaks on behalf of Indigenous people, they take the microphone away from real Indigenous people," she said.
'It's about my mom and my family'
When Klein sat down for an interview with CBC News last year to talk about his claim to Métis heritage when he was running for mayor, he said it was a way to connect to his late mother, Joanne Winacott.
She was killed in her Oshawa home by her second husband in 1991 at age 45.
Klein was 26 at the time.
"This isn't about claiming any rights or trying to think that it benefits me in any way. It's about my mom and my family," Klein said in an interview in September.
Kevin
Klein's mother, Joanne Winacott, was killed by her partner when Klein
was 26. This photo collage from Klein's website includes an undated
picture of Winacott with Klein when he was a boy. (kevinklein.ca)
Klein has been vocal about his mother's murder. To this day, he devotes a section of his personal website — which he used for his campaigns — to his mother.
On April 5, he talked about his mother's murder and domestic violence in the legislature on the anniversary of her birthday.
When Klein was the city councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood, he spoke of his mother's killing during a debate about the Winnipeg Police Service budget:
"I want to speak from a place that no one else on council can speak from. My Indigenous mother was murdered," Klein said in Winnipeg city council chambers in December 2021.
On May 5, 2022, Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Klein posted an Instagram video saying, "My mother was murdered by her partner and she was Indigenous," in front of the red dresses on display for the event at Winnipeg City Hall.
In an April letter, Klein's lawyer said the media, including CBC, may inquire into Klein's record and the actions he has taken on behalf of constituents but not into "personal matters."
"In our client's view, his heritage is one of the few connections he has to his late mother, who was taken from our client when he was quite young," wrote Paul.
In a subsequent email sent in mid-July, Paul wrote that Klein is "a firm believer in the freedom of the press and responsible journalism."
"However, continuing to raise a personal matter that is connected to the tragic death of my client's mother is not responsible journalism," Paul wrote.
The lawyer asked for confirmation that CBC News "will not run this story now or in the future."
Joanne
Winacott graduated with a nursing degree in 1985. Klein's brother,
Christopher Rout, attended the ceremony at the Oshawa Auditorium. (Submitted by Christopher Rout)
Repeated references in public settings to life experiences of Indigenous trauma are also a red flag, Teillet's report says.
"His mother was murdered. That's real trauma, but it has nothing to do with Indigenous identity," Teillet said in an interview. "It's a tragic story about his mother being murdered."
Teillet does not understand why Klein links his Métis heritage claim to the death of his mother.
"Is he saying, 'Oh, she was murdered, you know, she's part of that murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls story,' and so then there's this idea that if you can show somehow trauma in life, that's a legitimate reason to identify as Indigenous?"
Teillet points to a trend among the cases she examined in her report for the University of Saskatchewan.
"Indigenous identity fraudsters often play heavily on stereotypes of alienation from their culture and heritage, intergenerational trauma, family violence, addictions, racism and poverty. The fraudsters doing this are 'marketing trauma' using 'stolen trauma and stolen valour,'" Teillet wrote in her report, citing research by Sherry Farrell Racette.
Christopher
Rout is the youngest of Kevin Klein's two brothers. He says he does not
like the way Klein uses their mother's memory on his website and in his
social network posts. (Submitted by Christopher Rout)
Rout says he's upset about how Klein portrays their mother's death in public.
Klein's Instagram account — which he started shortly before his run for city council in 2018 — contains at least 15 posts related to his mother's killing, in addition to campaign ads for city councillor and his 2022 mayoral and MLA runs.
He also talks about his mother's murder on his personal site, which he also uses for campaign purposes.
Rout said he dislikes the way Klein uses his mother's memory in his public posts.
"To me, a son's job is to defend their mom, defend their mom's story, not exploit it for any gain. So I will stand and defend it all day long," Rout, a paramedic with Alberta Health Services, said in an interview with CBC News.
Indigenous identity requires connection
Klein completed the University of Alberta's Indigenous Canada course in 2020 and posted the certificate on his website. The free online instruction program covers the histories and current perspectives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Early in the course, University of Alberta professor Kim TallBear says having an Indigenous relative does not make you Indigenous.
"You don't just have the right as an individual to go claim to be a member of a community that does not know you, within which you have not been socialized and that does not claim you," TallBear said in a module of the course.
Jean
Teillet says you can't just claim that you are Indigenous. You have to
have some blood ties, some relationships to communities that are alive
today that acknowledge you. (Brian Morris/CBC)
Klein is adamant that his Métis heritage is a private and personal journey, but Teillet says that's not how it works.
"This idea that it's a personal journey and no one can question it … it's BS, right? We shouldn't give it credit. And so if he's on a personal journey for six to eight years, trying to find an Indigenous identity somewhere, then personally, I think he should shut up about it until he figures it out," Teillet said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jean Teillet IPC (BFA, LL.B, LL.M)
Senior Counsel
604.629.0319
jteillet@pstlaw.ca
Jean Teillet is Senior Counsel with Pape Salter Teillet LLP and specializes in Indigenous rights law.
Jean has long been engaged in negotiations and litigation with provincial and federal governments concerning Métis and First Nation land rights, harvesting rights and self-government. She served as counsel before all levels of court, including lead counsel for the landmark case R. v. Powley in which the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed constitutional protection of Métis harvesting rights. Among other significant Indigenous rights cases, she was co-counsel with Arthur Pape in Taku River Tlingit First Nation v. B.C., the companion case to Haida Nation v. B.C., in which the Supreme Court of Canada established consultation requirements. She is currently a negotiation advisor for the Sto:lo Xwexwilmexw in the BC treaty process and was part of the Pape Salter Teillet LLP legal team on the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement negotiations.
Jean was a founder of the Métis Nation of Ontario and the National Aboriginal Moot. She sits on the MMIWG Federal Sub-Working group. Jean is past Vice President and Treasurer of the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada and a former member of the Canadian Judicial Council Chairperson’s Advisory Group, the National Research Advisory Committee (Métis National Council) and the Equity Committee of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
In 2020 Jean’s popular history The North-West is Our Mother won the Carol Shields History Award and was shortlisted for the Canadian Law and Society Association W. Wesley Pue Book Prize. She was awarded the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross for service to Canada. She has been made an honorary lifetime member of the Association of Ontario Midwives for her contributions to Ontario midwifery. Jean was awarded the Indigenous Peoples’ Council award by the Indigenous Bar Association and she received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Law Society of Upper Canada’s first ever Lincoln Alexander Award for community service. Jean has three honorary doctorates from the University of Guelph, the Law Society of Ontario and Windsor University.
Jean is a frequent author and lecturer on issues surrounding access to justice, Indigenous rights, identity and history. Her annual publication, Métis Law in Canada is the principle resource on Métis rights and case law. She has presented internationally in Russia, Poland, Israel, Japan, United States and China. In Canada, she has spoken at conferences for the National Judicial Institute, Association for Canadian Studies, the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Native Justices of the Peace, the Universities of Alberta, Ottawa, Saskatoon and Toronto, among others. She has been on faculty at the Banff Centre and the Allard School of Law where she taught self-government negotiation, methodologies for understanding traditional Indigenous law, constitutional law and Métis law. She frequently lectures at the faculties of law across the country.
In 2019 Jean wrote a popular history, The North-West is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, the Métis Nation, which was published by HarperCollins and was listed as one of the Globe & Mail’s top 100 books of 2019. She created all four of the replica wampum belts in the collection at the Law School of the University of Toronto. One belt, the Two-Row Wampum Belt, hangs in Flavelle Hall at the Law School. Jean also created another belt for the Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw called the S’ólh Lets’emót Swṓqw’elh. Both the Swṓqw’elh and the Two-Row Wampum Belt are symbols of two different peoples living together with different laws and customs within a relationship built on respect and truth.
Jean received her LL.B and LL.M from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She is called to the bar in British Columbia.
Jean has been recognized as a “best lawyer” in Vancouver by Best Lawyers in Canada and as a “leading lawyer” nationally by Chambers & Partners. She is ranked as one of the “most frequently recommended” leading practitioners in the field of Indigenous law in the peer rankings published by Lexpert Magazine.
New Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O'Regan takes part in a
meeting with Assembly of First Nations leaders in Ottawa on Jan. 14.
O'Regan and AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde announced the new
policy Monday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jody.Wilson-Raybould@parl.gc.
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2019 16:58:02 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Federal Court Court File No. T-1557-15 I
feel compelled to ask does Andy Scheer or Seamus O'Regan or the rest
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To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
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---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2019 23:11:39 -0400
Subject: YO Katie Telford do ya think your buddy Gerry Butts or anyone
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Tuesday, 12 February 2019
Jody Wilson-Raybould resigns from cabinet in wake of SNC-Lavalin allegations
---------- Original message ----------
From: Jody.Wilson-Raybould@parl.gc.
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:50:40 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: The Honourable Thomas Albert Cromwell can
never deny that I tried to inform him of what the RCMP, the CBC and
his latest client Jody Wilson-Raybould knows Correct Me Butts?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
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courriel. En raison d'une augmentation importante du volume de
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votre courriel. Sachez que votre message sera examin? attentivement.
Pour nous aider ? r?pondre ? vos pr?occupations plus rapidement,
veuillez inclure dans le corps de votre courriel votre nom complet,
votre adresse et votre code postal.
Merci
https://twitter.com/
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks truth is stranger than fiction and anyone can easily Google
"David Amos Federal Court file No. T-1557-15" in order to sort out the
truth from fiction for themselves N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Jody Wilson-Raybould resigns from cabinet in wake of SNC-Lavalin allegations
236 Comments
David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
And now the lady quits? Yea Right
Trust that Mr Scheer and everyone else who sits in opposition know
that Jody Wilson-Raybould may have lost her mandate as Justice
Minister because of her failings in Federal Court and the Federal
Court of Appeal within my lawsuit against the Crown that was filed
when Harper was the Prime Minister and Mr Scheer was the Speaker. Need
I say that it irritated me bigtime when Jody appointed her Deputy
Minister to the bench of Federal Court not long after I argued their
minions in the Federal Court of Appeal?
Methinks anyone can check my work by simply Googling two names "Jody
Wilson-Raybould David Raymond Amos" N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks truth is stranger than fiction and anyone can easily Google
"David Amos Federal Court file No." in order to sort out the truth
from fiction for themselves. Its blatantly obvious that Mr Trudeau had
a duty to talk to Harper's Minister of justice and Peter MacKay and
had them pay particular attention to info found within statement 83 of
my lawsuit long before the election in October of 2015
Everybody knows why I am about to put the aforementioned matter before
the Supreme Court and file several more lawsuits in the Federal Court
against the RCMP and the CRA etc and also run for a seat in Parliament
again N'esy Pas?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Randy.Boissonnault@parl.gc.ca
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:57:12 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Yo Minister Qualtrough RE "Litigation Lmbo"
Please enjoy an email that you and your fellow members of the PCO
ignored for way past too long
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
Hello,
Thank you for writing to my office. I value hearing from Edmonton
Centre constituents and stakeholders. Your email will be read. My team
and I will be happy to respond.
This email is an automatic response to let you know that your
correspondence has been received. Please do not reply.
As we prioritize responding first to residents of Edmonton Centre,
please provide your postal code, if you have not done so already.
Should you need it, this link will help you confirm who your Member of
Parliament is: https://bit.ly/1BgbGyd.
I will reply as soon as possible whether your issue pertains to you
personally or if you have written to me on a matter related to my
LGBTQ2 responsibilities or other legislative duties.
If another government department or Member of Parliament can better
address your inquiry, we will forward your email to the appropriate
office and invite them to respond to you.
Thank you again for writing to me.
Kind regards,
Randy Boissonnault
Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 Issues
E-mail: randy.boissonnault@parl.gc.ca<
Website: http://rboissonnault.liberal.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R.
Twitter and Instagram: @R_Boissonnault
------------------------------
Bonjour,
Merci d'avoir ?crit ? mon bureau. J'appr?cie lire les ?lecteurs et les
intervenants d'Edmonton-Centre. Votre courriel sera lu et mon ?quipe
et moi serons heureux d'y r?pondre.
Ce courriel est une r?ponse automatique pour vous faire savoir que
votre correspondance a bien ?t? re?ue. S'il vous pla?t ne r?pondez
pas.
?tant donn? que nous donnons priorit? aux r?sidents d'Edmonton-Centre,
s'il-vous-pla?t veuillez nous fournir votre code postal si vous ne
l'avez pas d?j? fait.
Au besoin, le lien suivant vous aidera ? confirmer qui est votre
d?put?: https://bit.ly/1CyAl50 .
Je vous r?pondrai d?s que possible si votre enjeux vous concerne
personnellement ou si vous m'avez ?crit sur une question li?e ? mes
responsabilit?s sur les enjeux LGBTQ2 ou ? d'autres t?ches
l?gislatives.
Si un autre service gouvernemental ou un autre membre du Parlement est
dans une meilleure position pour r?pondre ? votre demande, nous
transmettrons votre courriel au bureau appropri? et les inviterons ?
vous r?pondre.
Merci encore de m'avoir ?crit.
Cordialement,
Randy Boissonnault
D?put? d'Edmonton-Centre
Conseiller sp?cial du premier ministre sur les enjeux LGBTQ2
E-mail: randy.boissonnault@parl.gc.ca<
Site internet: http://rboissonnault.liberal.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R.
Twitter et Instagram: @R_Boissonnault
Jody Wilson-Raybould resigns from cabinet in wake of SNC-Lavalin allegations
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed Monday that he had 'full
confidence' in Wilson-Raybould
Catharine Tunney · CBC News · Posted: Feb 12, 2019 11:39 AM ET
Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former Attorney General of Canada, has
resigned from cabinet. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Jody Wilson-Raybould — the former justice minister who has kept
largely silent since a news report claimed the Prime Minister's Office
pressured her to help Quebec-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin avoid
criminal prosecution — has resigned from cabinet.
She tweeted a link to her resignation letter this morning.
"With a heavy heart I am writing to tender my resignation as the
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National
Defence," she wrote.
Jody Wilson-Raybould ✔ @Puglaas
With a heavy heart I have submitted my letter of resignation to
the Prime Minister as a member of Cabinet...
https://jwilson-raybould.
…
1,873
12:34 PM - Feb 12, 2019
Statement from the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Member of
Parliament for Vancouver Granville |...
jwilson-raybould.liberal.ca
"When I sought federal elected office, it was with the goal of
implementing a positive and progressive vision of change on behalf of
all Canadians and a different way of doing poltics."
Wilson-Raybould, who was shuffled to the Veterans Affairs portfolio in
January, has been under intense scrutiny since a Globe and Mail report
alleged last week that the PMO wanted her to direct federal
prosecutors to make a "deferred prosecution agreement" (DPA) to avoid
taking SNC-Lavalin to trial on bribery and fraud charges in relation
to contracts in Libya.
Wilson-Raybould, who plans to stay on as MP for Vancouver-Granville,
has been quiet since the story broke, saying she can't comment because
she's bound by solicitor-client privilege.
In her resignation letter, she said she has retained the services of
lawyer Thomas Cromwell, a former justice of the Supreme Court of
Canada, to advise her on "topics that I am legally permitted to
discuss on this matter."
In an email to CBC News, Cromwell said he would not be making any
statements or doing any interviews.
A spokesperson for MP Francis Scarpaleggia, chair of the national
Liberal caucus, said that as of Tuesday morning, Wilson-Raybould
hadn't left caucus.
Ethics investigation launched
Her resignation marks a significant turning point in the emerging
SNC-Lavalin affair.
Just a day earlier, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau told reporters he
continues "to have full confidence in Jody."
He also insisted that he did not direct Wilson-Raybould to come to any
specific conclusions on whether to direct the Public Prosecution
Service of Canada to reach an agreement with SNC-Lavalin.
"She confirmed for me a conversation we had this fall, where I told
her directly that any decisions on matters involving the director of
public prosecutions were hers alone," Trudeau said Monday.
"I respect her view that, due to privilege, she can't comment or add
on matters recently before the media. I also highlight that we're
bound by cabinet confidentiality. In our system of governance, her
presence in cabinet should speak for itself."
Companies guilty of wrongdoing should be hit where it hurts — in
their pockets, says business prof
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs calls out 'racist and sexist'
treatment of Wilson-Raybould
Trudeau says he has 'confidence' in Wilson-Raybould as ethics
commissioner probes PMO over SNC-Lavalin
Jody Wilson-Raybould was involved in legal government talks about
fate of SNC-Lavalin, sources say
Wilson-Raybould's resignation likely will cast a shadow over the
upcoming election campaign. So will a recently-launched probe by the
federal ethics commissioner.
On Monday, Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion informed the NDP MPs who had
requested an investigation that there is sufficient cause to proceed
with an inquiry into Trudeau's actions in the case.
Responding to a letter from NDP MPs, Dion said he would investigate
the prime minister personally for a possible contravention of Section
9 of the Conflict of Interest Act, which prohibits any official
responsible for high-level decision-making in government from seeking
to influence the decision of another person so as to "improperly
further another person's private interests."
SNC-Lavalin faces charges of fraud and corruption in connection with
nearly $48 million in payments made to Libyan government officials
between 2001 and 2011.
The company has pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, the company could be blocked from competing for federal
government contracts for a decade.
The case is still at the preliminary hearing stage.
With files from the CBC's J.P. Tasker
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
---------- Original message ----------
From: Newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:50:24 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: The Honourable Thomas Albert Cromwell can
never deny that I tried to inform him of what the RCMP, the CBC and
his latest client Jody Wilson-Raybould knows Correct Me Butts?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Thank you for contacting The Globe and Mail.
If your matter pertains to newspaper delivery or you require technical
support, please contact our Customer Service department at
1-800-387-5400 or send an email to customerservice@globeandmail.
If you are reporting a factual error please forward your email to
publiceditor@globeandmail.com<
Letters to the Editor can be sent to letters@globeandmail.com
This is the correct email address for requests for news coverage and
press releases.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Hon.Ralph.Goodale (PS/SP)"<Hon.ralph.goodale@canada.ca>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:50:29 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: The Honourable Thomas Albert Cromwell can
never deny that I tried to inform him of what the RCMP, the CBC and
his latest client Jody Wilson-Raybould knows Correct Me Butts?
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Merci d'avoir ?crit ? l'honorable Ralph Goodale, ministre de la
S?curit? publique et de la Protection civile.
En raison d'une augmentation importante du volume de la correspondance
adress?e au ministre, veuillez prendre note qu'il pourrait y avoir un
retard dans le traitement de votre courriel. Soyez assur? que votre
message sera examin? avec attention.
Merci!
L'Unit? de la correspondance minist?rielle
S?curit? publique Canada
*********
Thank you for writing to the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Due to the significant increase in the volume of correspondence
addressed to the Minister, please note there could be a delay in
processing your email. Rest assured that your message will be
carefully reviewed.
Thank you!
Ministerial Correspondence Unit
Public Safety Canada
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Seamus.ORegan@parl.gc.ca
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2017 02:43:11 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks it was you who picked a fight with
me today EH Gregorios Tzemenakis?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
Thank you for your message.
Please note that this inbox is monitored by Minister O`Regan's staff.
If your message is an invitation, or related to the riding of St.
John's South?-?Mount Pearl, we will respond to your message as soon as
possible.
If your message is related to his role as Minister of Veterans Affairs
and Associate Minister of National Defence, please e-mail
minister-ministre@vac-acc.gc.
or call 1-866-522-2122.
Most importantly, if you are a Veteran or a family member in crisis,
please dial 911. There is also a 24/7 mental health assistance line
that you can reach at 1-800-268-7708. Veterans Affairs Canada also
operates a network of mental health clinics and you can find the one
closest to you here:
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/
Regards,
The Office of the Honourable Seamus O'Regan, P.C., M.P.
--/--
Merci pour votre message.
Veuillez noter que cette bo?te de r?ception est surveill?e par les
employ?s du bureau parlementaire du ministre O'Regan.
Si votre message est une invitation, ou en lien avec sa
circonscription de St. John's Sud?-?Mount Pearl, nous r?pondrons ?
votre message d?s que possible.
Si votre message lui est adress? ? titre de ministre des Anciens
Combattants et ministre associ? de la D?fense nationale, veuillez
?crire au minister-ministre@vac-acc.gc.
ou appeler le 1-866-522-2022.
Plus important encore, si vous ?tes in V?t?ran, ou un membre de la
famille d'un V?t?ran, en crise, composez le 911. Il y a aussi une
ligne t?l?phonique disponible 24/7 o? vous pouvez parler ? un
professionnel en sant? mentale. Cette ligne est le 1-800-268-7708.
Anciens Combattants Canada op?re aussi un r?seau de cliniques en sant?
mentale, et vous pouvez trouver une clinique pr?s de chez vous ici :
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/
Salutations,
Le bureau de l`honorable Seamus O'Regan, P.C., M.P.
https://www.willgoodon.com/
Will Goodon
Box 34 Site 145 RR1
Brandon, MB R7A 5Y1
Email: wgoodon@me.com
Canadian Wilderness Inn
Box 1090 Boissevain R0K 0E0
(204) 534-7155
wgoodon@hotmail.com
Hotel full service
Description
Phone No
MB
Email:
Website: www.canwildernessinn.ca
Will Goodon
MMF Board of Directors - Southwest Region
Box 34 Site 145 RR1
Brandon, MB R7A 5Y1
Email: wgoodon@mmf.mb.ca
Twitter: @willgoodon
Facebook: Will Goodon
Instagram: @willgoodon
wgoodon@mmf.mb.ca
http://www.mmf.mb.ca/regional_
President's Message
NCIFM
May 15, 2019 - The month of May has already seen many positive
developments along with a few challenges for our Citizens.
On Monday, May 13, we celebrated home ownership with one of the first
successful applicants of our First Time Home Buyers Purchase Program.
With the collective diligence of our Ministry of Housing and the Louis
Riel Capital Corporation, we are delivering the opportunity for Métis
families across Manitoba to experience the joy and security that comes
with home ownership.
Currently, approximately 150 Métis Citizens have applied to the First
Time Home Buyers Program. To date we have 138 successful applicants
who have been approved for home ownership. With our initial investment
of $5 million to the Program, we anticipate over $80 million in
mortgages in the Manitoba economy. We look forward to celebrating many
more success stories. Thanks to Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister
Duclos for renewing the partnership between Canada and the Métis
Nation. This Program is reconciliation in action. For more
information, please visit
www.lrcc.mb.ca/first-time-
On Thursday, May 9, I presented to the Federal Standing Committee in
Ottawa on Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis
children, youth and families. Through this Act, the MMF could develop
our own legislation for Métis child and family services. This
legislation would focus on prevention and keep our children with our
families, in our Community, and at home in our Nation. This would be a
welcome change from the current provincial legislation that rewards
removal. On top of this legislation we are currently facing a
provincial government that, in order to balance their books, slashes
funding to our most vulnerable children and families. As President, I
endorse and support this important Act. I want to thank Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet for introducing this critical piece of
legislation.
Brian Pallister continues his personal vendetta against the Métis to
the embarrassment of his government. The recent decision by Pallister
to cancel agreements with the MMF threatened the jobs of several of
our staff. These hardworking individuals have families to feed, bills
to pay, and homes to keep. The Manitoba Métis Government will ensure
that we find ways to keep these skilled staff.
The Pallister government also continues their siege on Métis rights,
claims, and interests. On top of the budget cuts to Métis children and
family services and on top of the cancelled agreements with the MMF,
the provincial government’s unilateral decision to implement a
commercial fishing license buy-back program is an attack on one of the
last remaining traditional economies in the province. The Pallister
government continues to use our tax dollars to undermine
reconciliation. But his attempts to silence us will not stop us from
fighting for your rights.
To address the attack on the livelihood of Métis and First Nations
fishers and to protect the sustainability of the fishery, the MMF
co-hosted an emergency fishers meeting with the Manitoba Keewatinowi
Okimakanak (MKO) and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO). With the
buy-back, two million pounds of fish have been taken off the market.
We have all witnessed that the buy-back is already devastating our
Métis villages, which rely on the Lake Winnipeg fishery. To add insult
to injury, Pallister’s government has not only taken millions of
pounds of fish out of the economy and hurt our fishers, his government
has forced a new net size. Now the fishers who were already struggling
will be forced to change their nets. This is like forcing farmers to
purchase new farm equipment. A similar scenario for fishers would
force them out of business. There is no logic to these arbitrary
decisions. This government is pitting commercial fishers against sport
fishers when it should be bringing them together. I can assure you
that I, as well as MKO’s Grand Chief Settee, and SCO’s Grand Chief
Daniels will take the necessary actions to protect the fishers and the
fishery.
I am proud of the staff and volunteers who helped make the Manitoba
Metis Heritage Fund’s (MMHF’s) Annual Métis Heritage Gala a success.
Close to 500 people gathered in the Grand Ballroom at the Fort Garry
Hotel. This year we anticipate meeting or exceeding the $65,000 raised
last year. This year the proceeds go to the St. Boniface Hospital
Foundation’s Youth BIOlab Jeunesse. The lab is a space created for
students and teachers to explore and experience real biomedical
science in a world-class research centre. By encouraging and educating
more youth as doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals we
will be ensuring that you and your families have access to the
professionals they need. I would encourage you to view our various
social media streams to see beautiful pictures and videos from this
year’s gala.
I would like to welcome April Hourie, a twice-elected official for
Selkirk, to her role as MMF’s Senior Political Analyst. She will be
seeking parties and leaders on their strategies to address Métis
issues that you have stated are important to you and your family, for
example: housing, health and wellness, education and employment, land
use and Métis rights, youth, children, and seniors. She is dedicated
to encouraging the democratic rights of voting and to help understand
through a Métis-specific lens of how political decisions impact your
daily life and the lives of the future leaders of tomorrow. To learn
more about how you can contribute and to connect with her and share
political issues that matter the most to you, please contact April at
ahourie@mmf.mb.ca or 204-586-8474.
Meeqwetch,
President David Chartrand
dchartrand@mmf.mb.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/
benjamin.mcdonald@mmf.mb.ca
Manitoba Metis Federation Inc.
Winnipeg Metis Association Inc.
10-150 Henry Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0J7
Telephone: 204-589-4327
Fax: 204-582-2711
E-Mail: wpgregion@mmf.mb.ca
Website: www.facebook.com/
Vice President: Andrew Carrier
Manitoba Metis Federation Inc.
Southwest Regional Office Inc.
656-6th Street
Brandon, Manitoba R7A 3P1
Telephone: 204-725-7520
Fax: 204-728-9085
E-Mail: info@southwestmmf.ca
Website: www.southwestmmf.ca
Vice President: Leah LaPlante
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http://www.pstlaw.ca/
http://www.pstlaw.ca/our-
Jean Teillet
Senior Counsel
604.629.0319
jteillet@pstlaw.ca
Richard Salter
Retired Partner
416.916.2989
info@pstlaw.ca
http://www.pstlaw.ca/jean-
Jean Teillet IPC (BFA, LL.B, LL.M)
Senior Counsel
Jean Teillet is Senior Counsel with Pape Salter Teillet LLP and
specializes in Indigenous rights law.
Jean has long been engaged in negotiations and litigation with
provincial and federal governments concerning Métis and First Nation
land rights, harvesting rights, commercial harvesting and
self-government. She has served as counsel before all levels of court,
including lead counsel for the landmark case R. v. Powley in which the
Supreme Court of Canada affirmed constitutional protection of Métis
harvesting rights. Among other significant Indigenous rights cases,
she was co-counsel with Arthur Pape in Taku River Tlingit First Nation
v. B.C., the companion case to Haida Nation v. B.C., in which the
Supreme Court of Canada established consultation requirements with
respect to Indigenous rights. She is currently the chief negotiator
for the Sto:lo Xwexwilmexw in the BC treaty process and was part of
the Pape Salter Teillet LLP legal team on the Tlicho Land Claims and
Self-Government Agreement negotiations.
Jean was a founder of the Métis Nation of Ontario and the National
Aboriginal Moot. She sits on the Canadian Judicial Council
Chairperson’s Advisory Group and the Indigenous Bar Association Ethics
Committee. She is Vice Chair of Indspire (formerly the National
Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) and is on advisory boards for The
Charter Project, Windsor Law School and Journal of Law & Equity,
University of Toronto.
Jean is past Vice President and Treasurer of the Indigenous Bar
Association of Canada and a former member of the National Research
Advisory Committee (Métis National Council), Equity Committee of the
Law Society of Upper Canada, and founding president of the Métis
Nation Lawyers Association.
In 2002, the Law Society of Upper Canada awarded Jean the first ever
Lincoln Alexander Award for community service. She was awarded the
Aboriginal Justice Award in 2005 by the Native Law Students of the
University of Alberta in recognition of her outstanding contributions
to Indigenous justice initiatives. In 2007, the University of Windsor
Faculty of Law established the Jean Teillet Access to Justice
Scholarship to honour her work as a human rights lawyer. In 2011 Jean
was awarded the Indigenous Peoples’ Council award by the Aboriginal
Bar Association and in 2012 she received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond
Jubilee Medal. In 2014, Jean was awarded an honorary doctorate from
the University of Guelph for her impact on Indigenous rights law.
Jean is a frequent author and lecturer on issues surrounding access to
justice, Indigenous rights, identity and mobility. Her annual
publication, the Métis Law in Canada (formerly the Métis Law Summary),
is the principle resource with respect to Métis rights and case law.
She has presented internationally in Russia, Poland, Israel, Japan,
United States and China. In Canada, she has spoken at conferences for
the National Judicial Institute, Association of Canadian Studies, the
Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Native Justices of the Peace,
the Universities of Alberta, Ottawa, Saskatoon and Toronto, among
others. She is on the faculty at the Banff Centre for Inherent Right
to Indigenous Governance and frequently lectures at the faculties of
law at the Universities of British Columbia, Windsor, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta, Toronto, York, Ottawa and Victoria.
Jean created all four of the replica wampum belts in the collection at
the Law School of the University of Toronto. The Two Row Wampum Belt
that hangs in Flavelle Hall is a symbol that two different peoples can
live together with different laws and customs within a relationship
built on respect and truth.
Jean received her LL.B and LL.M from the University of Toronto Faculty
of Law. Jean is called to the bar in British Columbia.
Jean is recognized as a “consistently recommended” leading
practitioner in the field of Aboriginal law in the peer rankings
published by Lexpert Magazine.
Toronto Office
546 Euclid Avenue
Toronto, ON M6G 2T2 Canada
T 416.916.2989 F 416.916.3726
Vancouver Office
World Trade Centre | Canada Place
999 Canada Place, Suite 404
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E2 Canada
T 604.681.3002 F 604.681.3050
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Kouchibouguac Acadian Legend Jackie Vautour's son Edmond will continue
the Battle!!
150 views
Charles Leblanc
Published on May 8, 2019
https://blg.com/en/News-And-
http://www.canlii.org/en/nb/
Author
Vautour v. Her Majesty the Queen, 2015 NBQB 94, New Brunswick Court of
Queen’s Bench (DeWare J.)
April 23, 2015
The New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench dismissed an appeal from
conviction brought by two men claiming to be members of a historic
Métis community in New Brunswick. The trial judge did not err in his
application of the Powley test for determining the existence of a
historic Métis community or in his treatment of the expert evidence.
The appellants failed to prove the existence of a Métis community in
the relevant area before the date of effective European control, and
therefore could not rely upon section 35 rights in defending the
illegal fishing charges.
The appellants Jackie and Roy Vautour were convicted under the Canada
Parks Act and the Canada National Parks Fishing Regulations for
unauthorized fishing for soft shelled clams within Kouchibouguac
National Park in New Brunswick. They defended the charges on the basis
that they were exercising an existing Métis right to fish for food.
The trial judge applied the Powley test in regards to determining the
existence of a historical distinctive Métis community. He did not
review all of the ten criteria set out in Powley, as he found that the
appellants had not proven the existence of a historical Métis
community prior to effective European control. The trial judge held
that the date of effective European control in the area was 1670. The
appellants had not proven the existence of a Métis community in the
Kouchibouguac area before 1670, or that there was a historic
rights-bearing community in the area at any time before or after 1670.
The Vautour appellants submitted that the trial judge erred in not
considering the factor of “self-identification”, and claimed that they
“entered the courtroom as Métis and left the courtroom as Acadians”.
They also argued that the trial judge failed to give proper weight to
the expert testimony of Chief Stephen Augustine, of the Mic Mac Grand
Council, that there existed a “shadow community” in Nova Scotia. They
also relied upon findings in the Daniels case that the Métis are the
most disadvantaged of all Canadians.
The Court of Queen’s Bench found that the trial judge did not err in
limiting his analysis to only the initial criteria from Powley. He
reviewed the historical evidence in detail and accepted the expert
evidence of Dr. Steven Patterson that 1670 was the date of effective
European control. This evidence was uncontradicted by the expert
evidence of the Vautour appellants. DeWare J. stated:
While the appellants dispute the trial judge’s finding of fact that
the date of effective European control was 1670, they do not suggest
an alternative date, nor based on my review of the record have they
provided evidence to the Court of the existence of a historic Métis
community as defined in Powley at any time. Certainly, the appellants
are correct to assert, as pointed out by the Supreme Court of Canada
in Tsilhqot’in and Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, [1997] 3 S.C.R.
1010, that in considering aboriginal rights claims the Court must
approach the question from both the common law perspective and the
aboriginal perspective. However, these guiding principles do not
relieve an aboriginal claimant from the burden of proof of
establishing their claims. Under the circumstances, once the trial
judge determined that there was not a historical Métis community in
the area prior to the date of effective European control, all the
other facts laid out in the ten part test of Powley become moot. In my
view, the trial judge appropriately focused his analysis on the
crucial question and once that was answered in the negative there was
no need to delve any further into the Powley criteria.
The trial judge determined, based upon the evidence before him, that
the date of effective European control was 1670 and that there was not
a historical Métis community in that area at that time. The trial
judge reviewed the evidence he relied upon and thoroughly explained
his reasoning in coming to these findings of fact. In my view, the
trial judge’s conclusions and determinations of facts with respect to
these issues were well reasoned and amply supported by the evidence
before him. Given the nature of the questions before the Court, the
trial judge relied extensively on the expert witnesses in arriving at
his findings of fact.
The Court of Queen’s Bench further held that the trial judge made no
error in his treatment of the expert evidence. Chief Augustine
testified at length in regards to the Mi’kmaq creation story, and it
could not be said that the trial judge prevented him from doing so.
Chief Augustine acknowledged that he could not define a historical
Métis community in the area, but took the view that it existed as a
“shadow community”. DeWare J. held that the trial judge did not
overlook this evidence. The Powley test allows for Métis communities
to be less visible at times due to historical circumstances, but there
must be visibility at some point in time. It was open to the trial
judge to accept the evidence of the Crown’s expert witnesses (Dr.
Patterson and Dr. Von Gernet) with respect to issues such as the date
of effective European control and the existence of a historical Métis
community in the area.
The Court of Queen’s Bench therefore held that the appellants failed
to establish their entitlement to the benefit of section 35 of the
Constitution Act, 1982 as Métis persons. The convictions were
confirmed and the appeals were dismissed.
Scott Kerwin
SKerwin@blg.com
604.640.4029
Expertise
Aboriginal Law