Former Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Minister Randy Boissonnault rises during Question Period, Oct. 25, in Ottawa. Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Embattled Liberal MP Randy Boisssonnault is out of cabinet according to a message from the Prime Minister’s Office or PMO.
“The Prime Minister and MP Randy Boissonnault have agreed that Mr. Boissonnault will step away from Cabinet effective immediately,” said the statement released Wednesday afternoon. “Mr. Boissonnault will focus on clearing the allegations made against him.”
Boissonnault has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal party. In 2018 at a heritage committee meeting, he referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree from Alberta,” adding his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman” — a statement he has repeated on other occasions.
He recently walked back those comments and said his family members belong to the Métis Nation of Alberta, after reporting by the National Post revealed that a company he co-owned had applied for government contracts while claiming to be Indigenous-owned.
The Opposition Conservatives focused their question period attacks on Boissonnault and his identity claims both Monday and Tuesday, demanding he be fired.
NDP MP Blake Desjarlais joined those calls Tuesday. Desjarlais, who is Métis, told reporters Tuesday that Indigenous people have been victimized by what has happened, and that people in Boissonnault’s Edmonton Centre riding are “embarrassed.”
“This race-shifting that’s taking place is very concerning,” Desjarlais said.
“If he does not resign, it’s incumbent upon the prime minister to kick someone like that out.”
According to the PMO, “Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor will temporarily assume responsibility as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages in addition to her responsibility as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.”
More to come.
With files from the Canadian Press.
