- Born
- November 11, 1974
- Education
- Quebec Diploma of College Studies in social sciences from CEGEP Heritage College (Gatineau); studied civil law at the University of Ottawa (dropped out)
- Career
- National chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples from 2006 to 2009; worked at HMCS Carleton
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada on January 8, 2009
- Notable
- Algonquin from the Kitigan Zibi reserve near Maniwaki; faced several arrests and controversies during his Senate tenure; lost a celebrity boxing match to Justin Trudeau in 2012
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before his appointment to the Senate, Patrick Brazeau was the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), an organization that represents the interests of off-reserve Indigenous peoples in Canada. He was first elected to this position in 2006. During a period of suspension from the Senate, he reportedly held several jobs, including working as a freelance reporter for Frank Magazine and as a day manager for an Ottawa strip club. These roles generated significant media attention at the time.
Key Relationships & Connections
Patrick Brazeau was appointed to the Senate in 2008 on the advice of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. His appointment was seen as part of Harper's effort to increase Indigenous representation in the upper chamber. Through his role as National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, he had established relationships with various federal government officials and Indigenous leaders across the country. However, his political positions sometimes put him at odds with other national Indigenous organizations, such as the Assembly of First Nations.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
Senator Brazeau was a central figure in the Canadian Senate expense scandal that began in 2012. He was investigated for improperly claiming a housing and travel allowance by declaring a primary residence in Maniwaki, Quebec, while reportedly living primarily in the Ottawa area. The Senate ordered him to repay over $49,000 in inappropriate expense claims. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also investigated the matter, leading to criminal charges of fraud and breach of trust. These charges were eventually withdrawn by the Crown after Brazeau fulfilled the conditions of a plea deal, which included repaying the outstanding amount.
Public Controversies
Patrick Brazeau's Senate career has been marked by several significant public controversies. The most prominent was the Senate expense scandal, which led to his suspension from the Senate without pay from 2013 to 2015. His criminal charges related to the expenses were ultimately withdrawn after he agreed to a plea deal and repaid the funds. Separately, he faced unrelated criminal charges. In 2015, he was found guilty of assault and being in possession of cocaine, for which he received an unconditional discharge. In a different case, he was acquitted of a sexual assault charge in 2016. Another charge of assault stemming from a different incident was withdrawn by the Crown. In 2012, he participated in a high-profile charity boxing match against then-MP Justin Trudeau, which Trudeau won. The event drew widespread media coverage.