Information & Ethics Committee on June 4th, 2024

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

There's a question about this other Randy that's been reported.

I know the contention, sir, is that you'd like for this to be something that the opposition has created, but this has been reported in the media. The media has uncovered a number of things, including text message exchanges with someone who's named by one of your partners as a partner, and who they refer to as “Randy”. No last name of that Randy is available. The only Randy we know who's involved with the company is a minister in the Trudeau government.

Who were the partners in that company in 2022?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I do not have that information, Mr. Barrett.

Let me correct the record, Mr. Chair, on the question. I'll go through you, Mr. Chair.

I am not the person in those texts. Mr. Anderson confirmed that it's not me.

I have a quote from the article that you're talking about, Mr. Barrett, which is from the Ghaoui Group. It reads, “We have had no direct communication with Mr. Boissonnault at any point in our dealings with Stephen and the companies,” because I have had no active role in GHI since I was elected in 2021.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay. You said publicly you didn't have anything to do with Stephen Anderson's business deals on behalf of your PPE company, Global Health Imports. Is that right?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I have had no active role in GHI since I was elected, and, Mr. Barrett, you said yourself in your question this morning—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Related to deals that—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, may I answer?

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Chair, I gave—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Hang on a second. Let's stop the clock.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I'm going to ask Mr. Barrett to continue. He has another question.

Minister, prepare for an answer.

Go ahead.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

On the way the meeting is going to run, I gave Mr. Boissonnault more than twice the amount of time to respond to both of my previous questions than I spent asking the questions. If I have a short question and the minister wants to run the clock, that's obviously not going to demonstrate fairness in the proceedings.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I think I made it pretty clear at the top of the meeting, Mr. Barrett, that my expectation today is that as members ask questions, an equal amount of time is going to be given for those responses.

Minister, I ask that all members respect that.

I'm not going to be the timekeeper here, other than the six minutes, but if I see that a member is going a little bit off in terms of time, then I will intervene.

Mr. Barrett.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

How much time do I have?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

You have three minutes and 16 seconds.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Related to deals with the Ghaoui Group, you didn't have anything to do with the alleged wire fraud?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Barrett, I have been very clear that I have had no operational dealings with GHI since I was elected, and you, sir, indicated at the start that the “Randy” in the article was not me.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

That company alleges that you were involved. Are they telling the truth?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

They're not correct, because I've had no correspondence from them. Mr. Anderson indicates very clearly in this morning's article that that “Randy” is not me.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

We have text messages implicating you, sir, in this wire fraud, and it was carried out by your business partner to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

One of them reads, “What is going on? I just received this from Randy. It’s 13:14 MST and 15:14 EST. It literally takes 10 seconds to complete a transfer. I'm telling you we are not allocating like this. Please reach out and see what the reason is now. You assured me this was done this morning first thing and allowed you to hold this stock today. It's mid-day and nothing is completed. I'm calling Felix to discuss. Be available for a partner call in 15 minutes.”

Sir, it seems like you're trying to conceal your involvement in a matter of fraud. Why?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, that is completely beyond the pale. It's completely false, and it's not true.

The article states very clearly that the Ghaoui Group had no contact with me, which is true, and Mr. Anderson indicated this is a different Randy.

Mr. Barrett, your first name is Michael. Mr. Cooper's first name is Michael. Are we to confuse your two identities here at committee when you ask questions of me that are spurious in nature?

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I look forward—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

There's more than one Randy here and no lawsuits—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Chair, I look forward to Mr. Boissonnault being in opposition—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, I didn't have time to finish my answer.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

—and having the opportunity to—