Canadian Jobs Minister Randy Boissonnault apologizes after new claims about his Indigenous identity come under scrutiny.

The Edmonton Liberal MP says he’s sorry for not being clear about who he is and his family history and that he’s still learning more about his heritage.

Boissonnault once referred to himself as an “adopted non-status Cree from Alberta” and said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.”

The apology follows reports that a company co-owned by Boissonnault failed to bid on two federal contracts while identifying itself as Indigenous and Indigenous-owned.

Boissonnault says he never claimed Indigenous status to his business partner and he corrected the Liberal Party as soon as it learned of his public declaration that he was Indigenous.

The Conservative Party has asked Boissonnault to testify before the ethics committee and answer for what it calls serious allegations of fraud.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 15, 2024.