The federal Ethics Commissioner, Konrad von Finckenstein, has announced a deeper investigation into private text messages sent in 2022 by an enigmatic “Randy,” raising concerns about Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault’s connections with a former business partner more than a year after Boissonnault’s appointment to the federal cabinet. This follows the emergence of text messages and multiple Global News investigations revealing Boissonnault’s connections to a PPE company and a lobbyist.

Text messages obtained by Global News suggest Boissonnault may have engaged in business activities with his former partner at Global Health Imports (GHI) after joining the federal cabinet. A text exchange from September 2022 shows Stephen Anderson, co-founder of GHI with Boissonnault, communicating with Malvina Ghaoui of The Ghaoui Group, regarding a $500,000 deposit for nitrile gloves. Anderson referenced directives from “Randy,” prompting questions about whether Boissonnault continued to influence company operations​.

In the text exchange, Anderson wrote, “Randy told me to ‘be available in 15 for a partner call.’” Anderson also forwarded a message allegedly from Boissonnault that read, “Anderson, it’s 13:14 MST and 15:14 EST it literally takes 10 seconds to complete a (wire) transfer,” pushing for the completion of the deposit​. Ghaoui’s understanding was that Anderson was referring to Randy Boissonnault, whom Anderson had described as a partner in GHI and a public official​.

These exchanges are dated September 8, 2022, nearly a year after Boissonnault’s initial cabinet appointment as Associate Minister of Finance and of Tourism. He was promoted to Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages last summer.

Business ties and lawsuits

Global News investigations also highlighted Boissonnault’s connection to lobbyist Kirsten Poon, who helped secure $110 million in federal grants for Edmonton International Airport while simultaneously consulting for Boissonnault’s firm, Xennex. Experts have raised concerns about the propriety of these relationships, suggesting they could create perceptions of conflicts of interest​.

Boissonnault’s continued financial ties to Poon’s firm have drawn scrutiny. Despite these relationships, Boissonnault has maintained that he followed all lobbying and conflict-of-interest rules. However, critics argue that his connections to GHI and the payments received from Poon’s business raise significant ethical concerns​.

GHI, co-founded by Boissonnault and Anderson, has faced several lawsuits alleging unpaid invoices and fraudulent activities. In one case, GHI received a $500,000 deposit from The Ghaoui Group for a glove shipment that never materialized. Anderson and other GHI representatives have denied any wrongdoing, claiming that contractual obligations were not met by Ghaoui. Just 16 days after Ghaoui Group wired the deposit, a fire that police say was deliberately set after a break and enter burned down GHI’s Edmonton warehouse, destroying all inventory​.

Suppliers who had begun demanding payment before the fire were told by Anderson that payments would be delayed as the company dealt with the fallout. Anderson also promised to return Ghaoui’s deposit once insurance payouts were received, a claim disputed in court documents​.

In interviews with GHI’s former suppliers, Edward Anderson, Stephen’s father, was identified as the company’s logistics lead. His email signature had the title ‘Logistics/Supply Chain’ at GHI in 2021, according to emails viewed by Global News between GHI and suppliers.

In another lawsuit, filed by Patterson Dental, GHI was accused of failing to pay for 15 invoices between November 2020 and January 2021 totaling $384,250. While Boissonnault claimed that all bills were paid when he was running the company, court documents disputed this statement. The case was settled in January 2023 with GHI agreeing to pay $159,250, significantly less than the initial claim.

Over the course of a week in April 2023, GHI was sued three times over alleged unpaid bills. These lawsuits, combined with Ghaoui Group’s fraud allegations, have resulted in Alberta courts ordering GHI to pay nearly $8 million to its suppliers and buyers. Boissonnault is not named in these lawsuits, but the financial mismanagement allegations add to the controversy surrounding his business dealings​.

Conflict of interest

The ethics commissioner’s investigation aims to determine whether Boissonnault breached federal conflict-of-interest laws, which prohibit ministers from using their office to further personal interests or those of associates.

NDP MP Blake Desjarlais has called for greater scrutiny, urging the ethics commissioner to thoroughly investigate Boissonnault’s ties to both GHI and Poon. The Parliamentary ethics committee has approved a motion for Boissonnault and von Finckenstein to testify about these matters​.

The case also highlights broader concerns about the intersection of business and politics. Boissonnault’s continued presence on business registries long after his election, and the delayed updating of these records, may have created opportunities for perceived or actual conflicts of interest​. Boissonnault informed Anderson of his resignation from GHI in September 2021 and requested that Anderson update the federal and provincial business registries, which did not happen. Hansen stated that after “lengthy inaction” by Anderson, Boissonnault initiated the process himself through his lawyer in March 2023. The paperwork was backdated to April 2022​.

In response to the allegations, Boissonnault reiterated his stance: “I am not the Randy mentioned in these messages. I have been transparent about my business holdings, and I have had no operational involvement since re-entering public service.”

His spokesperson, Alice Hansen, reiterated that Boissonnault ceased active involvement with GHI after his election in 2021 and has had no communication with Anderson regarding business matters since then. Hansen also stated that Boissonnault formally resigned from GHI after being elected, and that he has followed all conflict-of-interest and lobbying rules​.

The revelation has sparked significant controversy, with political analysts and opposition members questioning the ethical implications of Boissonnault’s continued business interests. Ethics Commissioner von Finckenstein has stated, “The integrity of our public officials is paramount. This investigation will determine whether there has been any breach of conduct or conflict of interest.”

Information for this briefing was found via Global News, National Post, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.