Conservatives increase pressure on Boissonnault to resign
Conservatives are intensifying their calls for Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault to step down in light of recent revelations regarding his former medical-supply company and its association with a woman involved in a drug bust. According to a report published in the National Post, Boissonnault’s former company, Global Health Imports Corporation (GHI), shared a rented mailbox with Francheska Leblond, who was detained in a cocaine bust in the Dominican Republic in 2022.
Boissonnault, who owned half of GHI at the time, has denied any ties to Leblond during a heated question period in the House of Commons. However, this latest development adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding Boissonnault’s business dealings and claims about his family’s Indigenous heritage.
The controversy surrounding Boissonnault escalated in October when Conservative MP Michael Barrett introduced a motion calling for Stephen Anderson, the chief operating officer of GHI and Boissonnault’s former business partner, to be found in contempt of Parliament. This motion is currently under debate as Anderson faces an ethics committee probe based on text messages released during legal proceedings.
The texts in question suggest ongoing business consultations between Anderson and someone referred to as “Randy,” raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest while Boissonnault held a cabinet position. Boissonnault has maintained that he had no involvement in the business after his re-election in 2021 and has accused Anderson of acting without his consent.
Further complicating matters, Global News reported that Anderson and Leblond registered a numbered company together in December 2021, after Boissonnault’s re-election and appointment to cabinet. The Conservatives have criticized Anderson for evading questions and withholding documents related to the matter during his appearance before the ethics committee.
The controversy also extends to Boissonnault’s claims about his Indigenous identity. While he has never explicitly claimed to be Indigenous, he has spoken publicly about his great-grandmother being Cree, receiving a Cree name, and identifying as a “non-status adopted Cree.” The Liberal Party has also made conflicting statements regarding Boissonnault’s Indigenous heritage, with some internal groups identifying him as Indigenous while others later issuing clarifications attributing the misinformation to staff errors.
As the pressure mounts on Boissonnault to address these controversies, the debate over his resignation and the implications for his political future continue to dominate the political landscape.
