Suspended Alberta justice minister says not guilty of distracted driving, opposition want more info
Posted Jan 19, 2022 12:03 pm.
Alberta cabinet minister Kaycee Madu says he understands why Premier Jason Kenney relieved him of the justice portfolio after Madu phoned Edmonton’s police chief about a traffic ticket.
Madu, in a series of tweets Tuesday night, says he did not phone Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee to get the $300 distracted driving ticket cancelled, but understands why people could have concerns about the call.
That said, with hindsight now I can see how that may be perceived. There is a saying that perception is everything in politics, and I regret raising the issue at all with Chief McFee.
I paid the ticket fully and promptly. 10/13— Kaycee Madu, KC, ECA (@KayceeMaduYEG) January 19, 2022
The incident, which happened 10 months ago, came to light this week and Kenney suspended Madu from his justice duties pending an investigation.
Madu says he phoned the chief to seek assurances that he wasn’t being targeted by police because he is Black or because he is in a high-profile government position.
He also says that while he was ticketed for talking on his cellphone while driving, his phone was tucked in his pocket.
Opposition call on Kenney to explain late course of action
Alberta’s Opposition says Premier Jason Kenney needs to come clean about when he found out that his justice minister had called Edmonton’s police chief about getting a traffic ticket.
Irfan Sabir the NDP’s justice critic, says the ticket happened 10 months ago, but Kenney didn’t take action until it came out in the media this week.
"Kaycee Madu must resign."@MLAIrfanSabir explains why. #ableg pic.twitter.com/pCOdoWmk5b
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) January 19, 2022
Sabir says it doesn’t matter what Madu asked about.
He says calling the police chief is a gross violation of the independence between police and government.
