Boissonnault faces new scrutiny over his statements on family’s Indigeneity

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is facing a new round of questions over his business dealings and family history at a parliamentary committee after a report revealed that his former company, Global Health Imports (GHI), claimed to be “Indigenous owned” when bidding for federal contracts in 2020. Boissonnault has been embroiled in investigations into his past business activities for several months, with allegations that he continued to be involved with GHI after becoming a cabinet minister, which would be illegal.

Boissonnault has denied all allegations and has attributed the controversy to his former business partner, Stephen Anderson, whom he claims was working without his knowledge to further his own interests. However, questions have been raised about Boissonnault’s statements regarding his family’s Indigenous heritage, with conflicting information emerging over time.

While Boissonnnault’s spokesperson has clarified that he has never claimed to be Indigenous himself, the Liberal Party has previously identified him as Indigenous. In 2015, the party’s Indigenous Peoples’ Commission listed Boissonnault as one of ten Indigenous Liberal candidates elected to the House of Commons. However, in 2019, the party issued a clarification stating that Boissonnault does not claim Indigenous heritage, attributing the error to a staff mistake.

Boissonnault has referred to his Cree great-grandmother and has recently stated that his mother is Métis, leading to skepticism from experts. His spokesperson has stated that Boissonnault’s mother and brother have registered as citizens of the Métis Nation of Alberta, providing documentation to support their claims. Boissonnault has self-identified as a “non-status adopted Cree” based on his adoptive family’s understanding of their Indigenous history.

The controversy has also impacted Boissonnault’s membership in the Liberal Indigenous caucus, with calls for his removal by retired Métis lawyer Jean Teillet and author Michelle Good. Teillet believes that individuals without genuine Indigenous heritage should not be influencing Indigenous policy decisions. The Liberal Party has not responded to inquiries regarding Boissonnault’s Indigenous identity.

The parliamentary ethics committee has summoned Boissonnault to testify for a third time following the emergence of new texts suggesting ongoing communication with Anderson regarding business matters. Conservatives are calling for expanded investigations into GHI’s bid for federal contracts, alleging fraudulent claims of Indigenous ownership. Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett has criticized Boissonnault for his involvement with Anderson and the misleading representations made by GHI.

Boissonnault has expressed regret over his association with Anderson and maintains that he ceased involvement with GHI upon joining the cabinet. Anderson has declined to provide a statement on the matter. The ongoing scrutiny surrounding Boissonnault’s business dealings and family history underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in public office.