Canada | Politics

Native lawmaker returns to seat after charges dropped in Canada

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Patrick Brazeau. Photo from Facebook

Patrick Brazeau, a controversial Native politician from Quebec, will be able to return to his seat in Canada's Senate after government authorities dropped charges against him.

Brazeau, who is from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, was suspended in February 2013 in connection with a domestic violence incident. He was suspended again later that year after being accused of misusing government funds.

The government officially dropped fraud and breach of trust against Brazeau on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to return to the Senate. He resolved the domestic violence case with guilty pleas to simple assault and possession of cocaine.

"I wouldn't wish false accusations on my worst enemy," Brazeau wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning. "It almost ruined my life. I was thrown under the bus but I survived."

Brazeau, who was affiliated with the Conservative party that lost power when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to power last year, is still facing a charge of refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test for an incident in April, CBC News reported.

Incidentally, Brazeau and Trudeau once participated in a celebrity boxing match in March 2012. Brazeau lost to Trudeau, who was a member of parliament at the time.

Get the Story:
Patrick Brazeau clear to return to Senate as fraud charges dropped (CBC 7/13)
Crown withdraws expense charges against Sen. Patrick Brazeau (APTN 7/13)
Fraud, breach of trust charges against Senator Patrick Brazeau to be dropped (CBC 7/12)
Crown to abandon charges against Senator Patrick Brazeau on Wednesday (The Ottawa Citizen 7/12)