Randy Boissonnault Faces Scrutiny in Committee Over Identity Claims, Business Dealings

Then-Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault takes questions from reporters before a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 9, 2024. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Former cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault was under scrutiny about claims around his identity during his appearance at a parliamentary committee, including from an indigenous NDP MP who said his statements are “hard to believe.”

Boissonnault, who left cabinet last month to clear allegations levelled against him, appeared before the House of Commons indigenous and northern affairs committee on Dec. 5. The committee is conducting a study on barriers to indigenous economic development.

Boissonnault has come under fire for his former company bidding on federal contracts while falsely claiming to be indigenous-owned. The former minister has also faced criticism for shifting claims around his indigenous heritage.

The MP from Edmonton said to the committee his adopted family told him his great grandmother was Cree. He had previously described her in public statements as “full-blooded Cree.”

Boissonnault said he came to describe himself as a “non-status adopted Cree” after consulting with an indigenous researcher, as he sought advice on how to speak about his family’s history.

“I sincerely apologize. To be clear, I have never claimed indigenous status for myself,” he said.

The National Post reported in November, based on census records, that Boissonnault’s great-grandmother was of mixed-ancestry, with her father identifying as German.

NDP MP Lori Idlout, speaking in Inuktituk through a translator, first asked Boissonnault what Cree nation he said his family belonged to when he made the claims. Boissonnault said he didn’t ask his family about it.

“We didn’t talk about it a lot, but I know growing up with my great-grandmother, she wasn’t part of a nation, she married a settler,” he said.

Idlout, who represents Nunavut in the House of Commons, also questioned why other entities made claims about Boissonnault being indigenous and whether he had provided consent. The Liberal Party, for example, had previously introduced Boissonnault as indigenous in public communications.

“Anytime that I’ve seen my name associated with indigenous status, I have been quick to change that,” said Boissonnault.

Idlout raised doubts about Boissonnault’s testimony.

“There are so many publications, there are so many interviews with you, that you’ve claimed that your indigenous identity is who you are,” she said in English. “Then for you to race-shift from being Cree, from being Métis to being white, now being adopted, what you are sharing with us is hard to believe.”

Boissonnault replied he has “always tried to be consistent with who I am.”

Conservative MPs also questioned Boissonnault on his identity. Garnett Genuis asked Boissonnault why he told the committee about consulting with an indigenous researcher on his decision to refer to himself as a “non-status adopted Cree,” since the said researcher disagrees with the label.

Boissonnault said he chose the term after consulting with Chadwick Cowie, a member of the Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg Nation who teaches political science the University of Toronto. Cowie told the National Post he had not come up with the term.

“So you sat down with professor Cowie and he gave you some advice. You ignored that advice and came up with this term independently, on your own,” Genuis said.

Business Dealings

Conservatives also honed in on Boissonnault’s past business dealings during the committee meeting. For months they have suggested Boissonnault broke ethics rules by remaining involved in the management of his former business, Global Health Imports (GHI), after being re-elected to Parliament in 2021 and becoming minister.

Part of their case revolves around Boissonnault’s former business partner, Stephen Anderson, repeatedly referring to a “Randy” in text messages around business operations while Boissonnault was in office. The ethics commissioner looked into the claims several times and closed the probes without releasing findings.

Boissonnault has sought to distance himself from Anderson and has accused him of acting “unethically.” He told the committee he has sought legal counsel to explore options against Anderson.

The Epoch Times has not been able to reach Mr. Anderson for comment. He told the ethics committee in July that he’s always been “ethical, legal and completely above board” in his business dealings.

During the committee meeting, Tory MP Michael Cooper noted that GHI had claimed to be indigenous-owned to bid on federal contracts in June 2020, when Boissonault was still a partner in the company. Boissonault said the decision was Anderson’s.

“I’ve never identified as indigenous on any application form, nor have my businesses ever benefitted,” he said.

“I am not named in any of the lawsuits against the company, and the events that have been reported by the media occurred after I stepped away from the company,” he said.

“To be clear, after I left in the fall of 2020, GHI continued as a company under the exclusive direction and control of Mr. Anderson.” GHI is being sued for fraud by former clients.

Cooper pointed out that Boissonnault’s business had claimed to be indigenous-owned to bid on federal work while Boissonnault was still a 50-50 partner in the company. GHI is not listed in the federal bank of indigenous-owned businesses.

“Why did you say that all of the allegations occurred after you had left Global Health Imports,” asked Cooper. “Why did you mislead committee this morning on that?”

Boissonnault responded that “nothing could be further from the truth” and repeated having not been involved with any federal work. “I confirmed that with the ethics commissioner,” he said.

The federal government announced in late November it was suspending contracting with GHI, a medical supply company. Public Services and Procurement Canada said the company had one active contract with Elections Canada but there had been no payments made or goods delivered before a full stop-work order was issued. Boissonnault remained a major shareholder in the company until June 2024.

Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.