Canadian Minister Resigns Amid Controversy Over Indigenous Heritage Claims

Randy Boissonnault, Canada’s former Employment Minister, resigned Wednesday after a growing controversy over his claims of Indigenous ancestry. For years, Boissonnault had referred to himself as the great-grandson of a Cree woman and stated that he was adopted into a family with Cree heritage. However, following reports questioning the accuracy of his family’s background, Boissonnault admitted he had been mistaken about his ancestry.

The resignation comes after political opponents accused Boissonnault of “race-shifting” or falsely claiming to be Indigenous, terms commonly used to describe individuals who misrepresent their heritage for personal gain. The issue gained traction following an investigation by The National Post, a Toronto newspaper, which revealed that a medical supply company once co-owned by Boissonnault had twice identified itself as Indigenous-owned in unsuccessful bids for government contracts.

In response, Boissonnault explained that his former business partner had mischaracterized the company as Indigenous-owned without his knowledge or consent. The Canadian government has set a goal to allocate around 5% of its contracts to Indigenous companies, leading to scrutiny of the program for potential abuses.

Boissonnault, a member of the Liberal Party, was first elected to Parliament in 2015 and has often referenced his adoptive family’s Cree heritage. However, his claims did not attract significant attention until recently. In a 2018 parliamentary hearing, Boissonnault mentioned that his mother was one-quarter Cree, and he had spoken Cree in Parliament and received a Cree name.

The controversy deepened when opposition Conservatives initiated investigations into his business dealings. It was alleged that Boissonnault remained involved with his medical supply business even after taking up his ministerial role, potentially violating conflict-of-interest rules.

In a news conference Friday in Edmonton, Boissonnault apologized for his earlier statements about his heritage, explaining that he was still learning about his family’s history. He clarified that while he will no longer serve as a cabinet minister, he will remain a member of Parliament.