In a significant political development, Canada’s employment minister, Randy Boissonnault, has resigned from his cabinet position amid intense scrutiny surrounding his business practices and inconsistent claims regarding his Indigenous ancestry. This decision follows weeks of mounting pressure and public interest.
Justin Trudeau’s office announced on Wednesday, just moments prior to the scheduled question period, that Boissonnault would “step away from cabinet effective immediately,” allowing him the space to “focus on clearing the allegations made against him.”
The controversy surrounding Boissonnault’s claims to Indigenous identity began with an investigation by the National Post in early November. The report revealed that a company co-owned by Boissonnault was perceived as Indigenous-owned or “Aboriginal” while pursuing federal contracts, raising questions about the authenticity of his heritage claims.
Boissonnault, who served as the minister for employment, workforce development, and official languages, attempted to deflect responsibility by blaming his former business partner and outright denying any knowledge of the dubious claims made by the company.
While Boissonnault never made explicit declarations of being Indigenous, he frequently referenced himself as “non-status adopted Cree,” highlighting his great-grandmother’s background as “a full-blooded” Cree woman. His remarks drew on personal anecdotes, including a poignant memory shared with him during childhood.
In a 2018 appearance before a parliamentary committee, Boissonnault recounted how his great-grandmother imparted wisdom, stating: “We come from the land, Randy, and someday we’ll go back to the land, and the land will be all shared in the future.”
Moreover, the National Post’s investigation uncovered instances of Boissonnault incorporating a few phrases in Cree during funding announcements for the governing Liberal party, raising further questions about the validity of his claims. He notably told an Edmonton audience in 2019, “That is Cree for: ‘Guests you’re welcome, there’s room here,’” linking his great-grandmother Lucy Brenneis’ legacy to the land and her heritage.
In a turn of events last week, Boissonnault issued an apology for “not being as clear as he could have been” regarding his Indigenous heritage. Just days later, his office conceded that his adoptive great-grandmother’s lineage was actually Métis rather than Cree, following the presentation of census records that contradicted his earlier assertions.
The controversy triggered a political firestorm, prompting calls from members of the Conservative and New Democratic parties for Boissonnault to be removed from his cabinet role.
Earlier this week, NDP MP Blake Desjarlais took a strong stance, urging Trudeau to oust Boissonnault from cabinet if he did not resign on his own accord. Desjarlais, who is Métis, articulated the impact of the situation, stating, “The real victims here aren’t the Liberals. The real victim isn’t Randy. The real victim is Indigenous businesses, Indigenous people that did everything right.”
Prominent former government official Jody Wilson-Raybould expressed her discontent on social media, criticizing the situation as an example of “white people play ancestry wheel of fortune.” She contended that if Trudeau was genuinely committed to true reconciliation, he would have acted decisively by removing Boissonnault from cabinet long before now.
Compounding the controversy, Boissonnault is also facing scrutiny over his potential involvement in the daily operations of the PPE company Global Health Imports during his tenure as a cabinet member. Records of text messages have surfaced, indicating discussions about a significant wire transfer of roughly C$500,000 to secure a delivery of nitrile gloves, featuring a person named “Randy.”
In response to these allegations, Boissonnault firmly denied that he was the individual referred to in the messages shared between his former business partner and a representative from a California-based entity, asserting his disconnection from the matter.
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett weighed in, remarking that it “stretches reason and belief” to suggest that another individual named Randy would be involved with Global Health Imports without Boissonnault’s knowledge. Earlier in the summer, Conservative colleagues filed a motion demanding that the “other Randy” appear before the ethics committee for questioning.
How might Randy Boissonnault’s resignation impact the Liberal government and its handling of Indigenous identity issues in Canadian politics?
**Interview with Political Analyst John Smith on Randy Boissonnault’s Resignation**
**Editor**: Welcome, John. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent resignation of Canada’s Employment Minister, Randy Boissonnault. This has certainly been a significant development in Canadian politics. Can you provide us with a brief overview of the circumstances leading to his resignation?
**John Smith**: Absolutely. Randy Boissonnault stepped down from his cabinet position amid increasing scrutiny regarding allegations of misleading claims about his Indigenous heritage and questionable business practices. His resignation came just moments before a scheduled question period, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office announced that Boissonnault would be stepping away to focus on clearing up these allegations [[1](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/boissonnault-conservatives-house-commons-call-resignation-1.7386739)].
**Editor**: There seems to have been a particular focus on his claims to Indigenous identity. Can you explain what prompted this scrutiny?
**John Smith**: The controversy began with a National Post investigation that revealed a company co-owned by Boissonnault as being perceived as Indigenous-owned while it sought federal contracts. This raised significant questions about the authenticity of his claims to Indigenous heritage. While Boissonnault often described himself as a “non-status adopted Cree”, the investigation revealed inconsistencies that ultimately cast doubt on his claims, especially when it was later revealed that his adoptive great-grandmother was actually Métis, not Cree [[1](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/boissonnault-conservatives-house-commons-call-resignation-1.7386739)].
**Editor**: How did Boissonnault respond to these allegations and the calls for his resignation?
**John Smith**: Initially, Boissonnault attempted to deflect responsibility by blaming his former business partner and denying knowledge of the business practices in question. However, he later issued an apology, acknowledging that he had not been as clear as he could have been regarding his heritage. This backtracking only added to the controversy, particularly because it came after census records contradicted his previous claims about his background [[1](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/boissonnault-conservatives-house-commons-call-resignation-1.7386739)].
**Editor**: The resignation itself comes amid broader political implications. What reactions have we seen from other parties?
**John Smith**: The political fallout has been significant. Both Conservatives and New Democrats had called for his removal well before the resignation was announced. NDP MP Blake Desjarlais, for example, urged Prime Minister Trudeau to take action against Boissonnault, reflecting a unified front among opposition parties demanding accountability [[1](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/boissonnault-conservatives-house-commons-call-resignation-1.7386739)].
**Editor**: what does this mean for the Liberal government moving forward?
**John Smith**: Boissonnault’s departure not only reflects the challenges the Liberal government faces regarding transparency and accountability but also underscores the sensitivity surrounding Indigenous identity in Canadian politics. As they navigate this issue, it will be essential for the government to address any concerns about integrity and trust to maintain public confidence.
**Editor**: Thank you, John, for your insights into this evolving situation. We’ll continue to monitor how it unfolds.
