employment minister Randy Boissonnault Faced sharp comments from Conservative MPs in House of Commons About the reporting of his business activities by Global News on Thursday.
Tory MP Michael BarrettAccording to the Registry of Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, who is a member of the Ethics Committee, asked Boissonnault why he was receiving “dues” payments from a lobbying firm owned by a longtime business associate and former employee.
“The minister was caught cashing a check from a Lobbying Firm that was lobbying its own government,” Barrett said. “Their own ministry!”
Earlier this week, Global News published two investigations that found the MP for Edmonton Center did Relationship with a lobbyist who helped his client win $110 million in federal grants And A personal protective equipment company that was awarded $8.2 million in provincial and municipal contracts.
The lobbyist, Kirsten Poon, who owns the consulting firm Navis Group, met with high-level political staffers in the federal government, including Finance Canada, where Boissonnault was also associate minister.
Alice Hansen, Boissonnault’s communications director, said, “Minister Boissonnault has not been involved in any lobbying activity for Ms. Poon,” and has taken all necessary steps to avoid any conflict of interest.
Latest news from Canada and around the world
As it happens, it will be sent to your email.
Hansen pointed out that the federal funds “were not provided by any department reporting to Minister Boissonnault and he had no part in any approval process for those grants.”
While Boissonnault did not respond to comments directed at him in the House of Commons, his office told Global News in a previous statement that the funds Boissonnault received from Poon’s firm are long-delayed payments from his consulting work in 2020 and 2021, While he was. out of the office.
Boissonnault’s office told Global News the minister had complied with conflict-of-interest and lobbying rules.
“Minister Boissonnault always met all of his conflicts of interest and ethical obligations as a public office holder,” Hansen said.
House Leader Steven MacKinnon responded to the barrage of questions, saying that Boissonnault “has always followed the very strict ethics rules that apply to elected officials.”
“The minister has always conducted himself in an ethical manner that adheres to the spirit and letter of those rules,” MacKinnon said.
At the Ethics Committee on Tuesday, Barrett gave notice that she would table a motion requesting a study of the events unfolding in Global News’ reporting. The motion would call for Boissonnault, Poon and Global Health Imports (GHI) co-founder Stephen Anderson to appear before the committee to answer questions.
Boissonnault and Anderson formed GHI, a medical supplies company, early in the pandemic. Boissonnault was out of office at the time, having lost his Edmonton Center seat in the 2019 election.
Boissonnault remained listed as director of GHI for 16 months after being re-elected in 2021 and appointed to Cabinet, according to business registry documents obtained by Global News.
Business registry documents also indicate that he will remain a co-owner of the company.
GHI won at least $8.2 million in municipal and provincial contracts. It also ran into legal trouble and lost six lawsuits. Alberta courts have ordered GHI to pay more than $7.8 million to its suppliers and buyers.
In a statement to Global News, Boissonnault said he has no role in the company since being elected and receives no income from it.
Boissonnault’s office said the minister informed Anderson that Boissonnault was resigning in September 2021, believing Anderson would update business registries, which did not happen. His lawyer submitted paperwork to remove him from his position as director of both the federal and provincial registries in March 2023.
©2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.