Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault faced criticism from Conservative MPs in the House of Commons over his business activities, as reported by Global News. One MP questioned why Boissonnault was receiving payments from a lobbying firm owned by a former business associate while his own ministry was being lobbied. Global News investigations revealed Boissonnault’s ties to a lobbyist who helped her client secure federal grants and a PPE company that received contracts. Boissonnault’s office maintained that he was not involved in the lobbying activities and took steps to avoid any conflicts of interest.
Despite the accusations, Boissonnault’s office stated that the funds he received from the lobbying firm were for consulting work done while he was out of office in 2020 and 2021. They emphasized that Boissonnault followed conflict-of-interest and lobbying rules as required by his position. The House leader defended Boissonnault, stating that he always conducted himself ethically and followed strict ethics rules for elected officials. In response to the scrutiny, the ethics committee announced they would be requesting Boissonnault, the lobbyist, and a company co-founder to appear before the committee to address the concerns raised in Global News’ reporting.
Boissonnault and the company co-founder formed a medical supply company, Global Health Imports (GHI), at the start of the pandemic. Despite Boissonnault being out of office at the time, he remained listed as a director of GHI for 16 months after his re-election. Business registry documents indicated that Boissonnault is still a co-owner of the company, which received $8.2 million in contracts from municipal and provincial entities. Additionally, GHI faced legal issues, losing six lawsuits by default and being ordered to pay millions to suppliers and buyers. Boissonnault clarified that he had no involvement with the company since his election and receives no income from it.
Boissonnault’s office explained that the minister informed the co-founder of GHI of his resignation in 2021, expecting the business registries to be updated accordingly. However, his information remained on the registries until his lawyer submitted the necessary paperwork to remove him as director in 2023. The ongoing controversy surrounding Boissonnault’s business activities has led to calls for further investigation and accountability from the ethics committee. Despite the criticism and scrutiny, Boissonnault’s office maintains that he followed all conflict-of-interest and ethics obligations as a public office holder and conducted himself ethically throughout his tenure. The story highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in government officials’ business dealings to maintain public trust and integrity in the political system.
