OTTAWA, Ontario — On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his employment minister, Randy Boissonnault, would be resigning from his Cabinet position amid ongoing scrutiny regarding his claims of Indigenous heritage.

Trudeau conveyed in a statement that Boissonnault’s decision to step down was immediate, emphasizing the need for him to “focus on clearing the allegations made against him.”

The controversy came to light when the National Post questioned the legitimacy of Boissonnault’s assertions of Indigenous identity. Reports indicated that a company he co-owned had sought government contracts while labeling itself as Indigenous-owned, raising serious ethical concerns.

In previous communications, Boissonnault was identified as Indigenous by the Liberal Party, and in 2018, he described himself as “non-status adopted Cree.” However, he has since retracted these assertions following the revelations published by the media. Opposition figures from both the Conservative and New Democratic Party urged his resignation this week, intensifying the pressure on him.

With Boissonnault’s exit, there will be no representation from the Canadian province of Alberta in the Cabinet, which could influence the Liberal Party’s dynamics within the government.

Trudeau has stated his intent to lead the Liberal Party into the upcoming federal election, which could take place any time from this fall to next October. It is significant to note that no Canadian prime minister in over a century has secured four consecutive terms. The Liberals, lacking an outright majority in Parliament, will need to garner support from at least one major party to navigate the electoral landscape successfully.