OTTAWA – The political landscape is heating up as both Conservatives and New Democrats are demanding answers from federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault regarding questionable claims of Indigenous ownership tied to his former company, Global Health Imports (GHI).

Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett did not mince words, referring to the situation as "highly suspicious at best... but at worst, it’s fraud." His colleague, Michael Cooper, asserted that Boissonnault has "no place sitting in cabinet," escalating calls for accountability.

The controversy arose after reports revealed that GHI, which Boissonnault co-owned, had identified itself as "a wholly owned Indigenous and LGBTQ Company" while bidding for federal contracts during the pandemic. These dubious claims are particularly alarming given that federal programs preferentially support Indigenous-owned businesses. Although those specific bids failed, GHI managed to win a contract without claiming Indigenous status, raising further eyebrows.

NDP MP Blake Desjarlais, who has Cree and Métis heritage, expressed deep concern over potential "identity fraud," demanding an explanation from Boissonnault for the purported claims of Indigenous ownership. "For minister Boissonnault to have ‘no comment’ when asked about his Indigenous identity is deeply concerning," Desjarlais lamented. "Everyone who claims Indigenous ancestry should be transparent, especially when attempting to benefit from programs designed for Indigenous entrepreneurs."

Boissonnault has had a turbulent history concerning his identity assertions, oscillating between identifying as Indigenous and non-Indigenous in various statements over the years. Sources close to the issue revealed that his business partner, Stephen Anderson, bore complete responsibility for GHI's bids. However, Boissonnault has not responded to inquiries about which Indigenous groups he may belong to, leaving many unanswered questions.

During a House of Commons session, Liberal MP Charles Sousa defended the government, stating they are working tirelessly to crack down on ineligible companies seeking contracts through misleading claims of Indigenous ownership. He pointed out that GHI has never been classified as an Indigenous business nor listed in the Indigenous business directory, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Public scrutiny surrounding Boissonnault heightened after questions arose about his involvement in GHI, particularly after he was reelected and appointed to cabinet, which should have barred him from participation due to the Conflict of Interest Act. Anderson had previously misled reporters about a "Randy" he claimed was not Boissonnault, only to later confess he lied, leading to questions about the integrity of their business dealings.

Earlier this year, Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein closed probes into the matter after determining there was no evidence to suggest Boissonnault had violated conflict of interest laws. Nevertheless, tensions remain palpable, with Barrett tabling new text messages that appear to implicate Boissonnault in GHI's operations and calling for him to testify again.

As the investigation unfolds, the political ramifications of Boissonnault’s actions could reverberate through the Liberal government, and calls for greater transparency regarding Indigenous identity within business practices grow louder. Will more revelations come to light, or will the government manage to turn this scandal around? As the saying goes, "stay tuned!"