Ethics Commissioner to Conduct Third Investigation Into Employment Minister Boissonnault’s Business Transactions
Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein is currently conducting a third review of Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault’s business dealings.
“This new information has surfaced, which was previously unknown to me,” von Finckenstein informed MPs at the House of Commons public accounts committee on Aug. 8. This new information includes text messages showing Boissonnault’s former business partner discussing a 2022 business deal with someone named “Randy.”
In previous investigations, Von Finckenstein decided not to pursue a formal inquiry into Boissonnault’s business activities, citing a lack of evidence of any improper behavior on the minister’s part.
The initial scrutiny into Boissonnault’s business affairs occurred after a report by Global News in May revealed that he was still listed as a director of the medical supply company Global Health Imports Corporation while holding public office. Boissonnault and his former partner Stephen Anderson established the company in 2020, prior to Boissonnault becoming an elected official.
Boissonnault stated that he was a partner at the company until September 2021, when he regained his seat in the riding of Edmonton Centre and was appointed as the tourism minister. He subsequently resigned from the company, as mandated for public officials in Canada, but continued to hold a 50% stake in the company until recently.
The second probe by the ethics commissioner was prompted by reports that Anderson had sent text messages to a client on Sept. 6 and 8, 2022, referencing “Randy” and requesting a “partner call.” Anderson later clarified to the House of Commons Ethics Committee on July 17, 2024, that his phone had autocorrected the name to “Randy” multiple times.
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“Randy Boissonnault had no involvement in our operations or any business relationships beyond September 2021,” Anderson affirmed.
Anderson admitted to having previously misled Global News, the outlet that initially reported on the text messages, by claiming that there was another individual named Randy associated with the company. “I must confess that I panicked when [the reporter] asked ‘Is there another Randy?'” he admitted.
During his testimony on June 4, Boissonnault refuted being the Randy mentioned in Anderson’s text messages, asserting that he always conducted himself ethically.
New Text Messages
While appearing before the public accounts committee on Aug. 8, von Finckenstein was asked about a fresh batch of text messages released in July, indicating that Anderson was updating an individual named “Randy” about ongoing business affairs on Sept. 6, 2021.
Another message from Anderson suggested that “Randy” was in Vancouver, coinciding with Boissonnault’s visit to the city for a cabinet retreat from Sept. 6 to 8, 2022.
“Do these new details necessitate a further investigation on your part?” Conservative MP Michael Barret queried the ethics commissioner.
Von Finckenstein stated that he had requested all phone records and conversations from various messaging apps for Sept. 6 and 7, 2022, from Boissonnault. Once he reviews this information, he will be able to determine if Anderson was improperly using Boissonnault’s name or if there were genuine conversations taking place.
