Efforts by MPs to uncover if a mysterious “Randy” named in text messages refers to Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault were inconclusive during an ethics committee meeting July 17 aimed at uncovering whether the minister violated conflict of interest rules.
Tory MPs have now called on Mr. Boissonnault to reappear before the House of Commons committee after his former associate admitted that he lied to a reporter about there being a second “Randy” employed at the company.
Mr. Boissonnault’s former partner, Stephen Anderson, testified before the committee on July 17, where he blamed the autocorrect function for the name “Randy” appearing in text messages he sent in 2022 regarding a business he co-founded with Mr. Boissonnault in 2020. He did not publicly disclose the proper name that should have appeared in the text messages.
MPs on the committee are trying to ascertain whether Mr. Boissonnault played an operational role in the business while serving as minister. Ministers are required to disclose to the ethics commissioner their business dealings and assets and can receive related revenue, but the Conflict of Interest Act prevents them from taking on an active role.
Testimony
Mr. Boissonnault and Mr. Anderson entered a partnership and formed medical supply company Global Health Imports Corporation (GHI) in 2020 while the minister was not in office. Filings with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner indicate Mr. Boissonault is the sole owner of a holding company which holds a “significant interest” in GHI.Mr. Boissonault lost his House of Commons seat in 2019 but got re-elected in 2021 and was appointed minister of tourism. He was shuffled to the employment portfolio in July 2023.
In text messages from 2022, Mr. Anderson discusses a deal with a client and refers to the involvement of a “Randy” multiple times.
“What is going on? I just received this from Randy,“ wrote Mr. Anderson in September 2022, who then provided a copy of a message that reads: ”It literally takes 10 seconds to complete a transfer. I’m telling you we are not allocating like this ... Be available for a partner call in 15 minutes.”
“I hope the members of the committee can understand that this was an unfortunate autocorrect suggesting it was Randy,” said Mr. Anderson in reference to the text message reported by Global.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett, questioning that message and others from Mr. Anderson, noted the appearance of the name “Randy” on nine occasions.
“Is it your testimony today that—how many times do you say it, nine references to Randy—every one of those nine is an autocorrect?” said Mr. Barrett.
“Yes,” responded Mr. Anderson. “Randy Boissonnault was not involved with our operation or in any business relations after September of 2021.”
NDP MP Matthew Green continued questioning on the text message, saying “it’s safe to say” Mr. Anderson was being directed to join a partner call. “Who would have been the partner at that time?”
“I was reporting to no one else,” said Mr. Anderson.
Mr. Barrett read another of Mr. Anderson’s text messages from Sept. 6, 2022, in which he mentioned needing to update a “Randy” who was in the Vancouver office at that time. Mr. Boissonnault was participating in the cabinet retreat in Vancouver from Sept. 6 to 8, 2022.
“Do you know what Randy was in Vancouver on that date?” asked Mr. Barrett.
“No, I did not know that he was in Vancouver,” said Mr. Anderson, repeating that the autocorrect function was responsible for the name “Randy” appearing in the text.
Mr. Anderson said the person whose name was autocorrected to “Randy” is actually a female who was “heavily involved in managing day-to-day business.” He said he would only provide the name to MPs in camera to shield the individual from public pressure.
Mr. Anderson told the committee he had previously lied to Global News about there being another Randy working for Global Health Imports. Mr. Anderson had been quoted by Global saying another person named Randy was in charge of logistics.
“I admit that I did panic when she said ‘Is there another Randy?’” said Mr. Anderson in reference to his interaction with a Global News reporter.
“So you lied to the reporter?” asked Mr. Green. “I did, yes,” said Mr. Anderson.
Minister Testimony
The minister had appeared before the committee on June 4 and said he is not the person mentioned in Mr. Anderson’s text messages.“I have always conducted myself in an ethical manner,” said Mr. Boissonnault.
“I am grateful to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner for reviewing the claims made by Mr. Barrett and the media, and for the commissioner’s conclusion that there is no need for his office to look into this matter further.”
Mr. Boissonnault’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
“In this case, I can tell you that we’ve seen media coverage from July 4 that mentions the letter from the Commissioner to Minister Boissonnault,” said Michael Wrobel, a spokesperson for the commissioner.
