Liberal candidate in upcoming byelection facing questions about Indigenous heritage claims

The Liberal candidate in the upcoming federal byelection in B.C. is under scrutiny from a local Métis community organization regarding her claims to Indigenous heritage.

Madison Fleischer, who is running in the riding of Cloverdale-Langley City, has stated that she self-identifies as Métis and has previously indicated this on her social media profiles. However, the Waceya Métis Society, a chartered community of the Métis Nation B.C. located in the riding, has expressed doubts about Fleischer’s claims after she was unable to provide any evidence to support her assertions when approached by the organization.

In a statement, the Waceya Métis Society stated, “We wish to distance ourselves from Madison’s claims of Métis identity and urge her to conduct proper research and verification of her Indigenous heritage before making any further public statements.”

Fleischer, in response, explained that she self-identifies as Métis based on her great grandmother’s heritage and is in the process of collecting the necessary documentation to apply for Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) citizenship. She emphasized that she has always been transparent about not yet holding MNBC citizenship and has removed references to Métis from her social media profiles to avoid any confusion.

Despite being identified as a “non-status Métis with Ukrainian ancestry” in a previous media statement and as having “mixed Indigenous and Ukrainian heritage” in other recognitions, the Liberal Party did not explicitly label Fleischer as Métis or Indigenous in her bio or in the press release announcing her candidacy for the byelection.

The concerns raised by the Waceya Métis Society come in the wake of Alberta MP Randy Boissonnault stepping down from the federal Liberal cabinet amid controversy over his shifting claims about his Indigenous ancestry.

The vice president of the Waceya Métis Society, Callum Robinson, described Fleischer as being dismissive and unprepared when questioned about her heritage. Robinson emphasized the importance of honesty and transparency, urging Fleischer to acknowledge if she is unsure about her Métis ancestry.

As the controversy surrounding Fleischer’s claims continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how she and the Liberal Party will address the concerns raised by the local Métis community organization.