Global Health Imports Corporation, a company co-founded by former employment minister Randy Boissonnault, has been suspended from receiving government contracts, amid allegations that it falsely claimed Indigenous status in bids to secure federal funds. 

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has suspended Global Health Imports Corporation from participating in federal procurement, effective Nov. 22.

“The suspension will last for a period of 90 days and may be extended as necessary until a final decision regarding the supplier’s status under the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy is rendered,” read a Nov. 26 statement from the PSPC.

This measure prevents Global Health Imports Corporation from bidding or entering into contracts with the federal government.

The only federal contract awarded to the GHI, according to government records, was a competitive one valued at $28,298 to supply disposable gloves to Elections Canada. The contract—began on Jan. 5 of this year and was set to run until Dec. 30, 2024—did not include an Indigenous set-aside requirement, according to the PSPC.

PSPC said that Elections Canada has confirmed that “no deliverables have been received and no payments have been made against the contract,” and that Elections Canada issued a full stop-work order to Global Health Imports Corporation on Nov. 20.

The suspension comes a week after Boissonnault stepped away from his cabinet position on Nov. 20, following weeks of political pressure and calls for resignations after a series of news reports by the National Post and Global News raised questions about his former business dealings and the legitimacy of his Indigenous claims.

The National Post reported two weeks ago that GHI had made two bids for federal government contracts in 2020 and had described itself as “a wholly owned Indigenous and LGBTQ company” and “Aboriginal.”

These revelations led to widespread backlash, particularly from the opposition parties and Indigenous communities who have accused Boissonnault of “pretendianism”—a term used to describe individuals who falsely claim Indigenous heritage for personal gain.

Boissonnault, who had previously identified himself as a “non-status adopted Cree” in public statements, has denied ever using his Indigenous ties to benefit from government contracts. Although Boissonnault has publicly apologized for any confusion over his heritage, the controversy has left many questioning his integrity and the government’s oversight of its procurement processes. 

Boissonnault did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Hill Times

 

Irem Koca is a Turkish-Canadian journalist who joined The Hill Times in late 2023. She got her start in Canadian media in the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau, covering federal politics and national stories under the paper's year-long fellowship. With a background in broadcast journalism, she spent several years as a world news reporter at CNN Turkey. Her freelance work on Turkish politics has been featured in The New York Times and Reuters. She is fluent in English and Turkish. See all stories BY IREM KOCA