Federal cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault linked to PPE company embroiled in lawsuits

A federal cabinet minister remained listed as director of a medical supply company for more than a year while it was competing for provincial and municipal contracts, according to business registry documents obtained by Global News.

Global Health Imports Corporation (GHI), a company that Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault co-founded after he lost the 2019 election, outbid multinational companies on pandemic contracts for items such as disinfectant wipes and isolation gowns.

When Boissonnault won back his Edmonton Centre seat and was appointed to cabinet in the fall of 2021, he remained listed as director of GHI in provincial and federal business registries. The company went on to win at least $8.2 million in contracts.

Federal conflict of interest laws prohibit cabinet ministers from serving as directors of companies.

In a statement to Global News, Boissonnault, who is currently minister of employment, said he has had no role in GHI since he was elected and receives no income from it.

At a time of feverish competition, a startup with then-tourism minister Randy Boissonnault’s name attached to it in public registry documents was likely to have an advantage, industry experts said.

To date, documents indicate Boissonnault has retained his 50 per cent stake in GHI. MPs are allowed to own a company as long as they do not manage the business directly, and the company doesn’t obtain federal contracts. GHI did not obtain federal contracts.

Tracing GHI’s business activities during the pandemic, Global News uncovered a trail of lawsuits against the company over claims of unpaid bills and unfulfilled deliveries.

Global Health Imports has lost six lawsuits by default because the company did not put up a defence. In one of the cases, a