The federal government has temporarily suspended access to federal procurement contracts for MP Randy Boissonnault’s former medical supply company.
The former employment minister co-founded Global Health Imports Corporation (GHI) at the outset of the pandemic. It has been mired by controversy since the National Post reported that the company claimed to be “Indigenous-owned” while bidding for a federal contract in 2020.
Boissonnault has denied having any involvement in the business since he was re-elected in 2021.
Public Services and Procurement Canada said in a news statement on Tuesday that GHI would be suspended for 90 days.
It said the suspension might be extended until a final decision about “the supplier’s status under the Ineligibility and Suspension Policy is rendered.”
The department says GHI has only one active contract with Elections Canada, which issued a “full stop-work” order to GHI on Nov. 20 — the same day Boissonnault resigned from cabinet.
That contract “did not include an Indigenous set-aside requirement,” the department said.
“Elections Canada has confirmed that no deliverables have been received and no payments have been made against the contract,” the statement says.