Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday expressed support for his embattled Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil.
Reporters at the summit pressed Trudeau to explain why he maintains confidence in Boissonnault in light of new fraud allegations made against Boissonnault’s former business partner and other accusations that Boissonnault misrepresented his family’s Indigenous ancestry.
“Minister Boissonnault has addressed these and will continue to answer directly for those,” Trudeau told reporters.
“In the meantime, I’m happy that he is continuing to lead on issues around jobs and employment and represent Alberta in our government.”
Trudeau’s remarks in Rio de Janeiro come a day after Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre suggested in the House of Commons that Trudeau should fire Boissonnault as controversies around him grow.
Stephen Anderson, Boissonnault’s former business partner in a medical supply company, is facing several lawsuits amid allegations of fraud. Boissonnault has said repeatedly he has has nothing to do with the business since he resigned in the fall of 2021, when he was re-elected as MP for Edmonton Centre.
Boissonnault is not named in any of the lawsuits and Anderson denies the fraud allegations.
Boissonnault and Anderson founded Global Health Imports (GHI) in early 2020. Boissonnault said he resigned from GHI upon his re-election and appointment to cabinet.