Nigerian-born Canadian Minister of Justice and Solicitor General for Alberta, Kaycee Madu has been ordered by Premier Jason Kenney to step back from ministerial duties following reports he called Edmonton’s police chief after receiving a distracted driving ticket.
The Premier, in a tweet, wrote “I have spoken to Minister Madu about the March 10 incident reported in the media today.
“I conveyed to him my profound disappointment in his decision to contact the Edmonton Police Chief after receiving the ticket for a traffic violation”.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Facebook, Madu, while detailing his side of the speed driving ticket incident that happened in 2021, admitted that he indeed called Edmonton’s police chief after the incident, but not to ask him to rescind the ticket.
The embattled minister stated that at no time was he on a phone call when he was pulled over by the police and issued a ticket. He said he however paid for the ticker, fully and promptly.
Madu wrote: “Many have reached out to me wanting to know the circumstances of the ticket that I received and my subsequent call to the Edmonton Police Service Chief, Dale McFee. I have issued a formal statement to the media. The premier has also issued a statement on his planned course of action.
“On the morning of March 10, I was scheduled to meet with the media at the Rotunda of the Legislature before Question Period to address their questions and speak to matters concerning the Lethbridge Police Service.
“Minutes after leaving my home on my way to the Legislature, I was pulled over by an officer of the Edmonton Police Service.
“The officer indicated that he had observed me driving while distracted, alleging that I was on my phone. I disagreed, stating that I was not on my phone, as it was in an inside pocket. To be absolutely clear my phone was inside the left hand side pocket of my suit and I was wearing a winter jacket. I identified myself and drove away.
“Later, I spoke to Chief McFee to share the experience I have just had, and specifically for two reasons.
“First, due to the timing of the incident, I wanted to ensure that I was not being unlawfully surveilled following the Lethbridge Police Service controversy, and in particular given the fact that I was on my way to Legislature on a day that I was meeting with the media to address and answer questions around calls for action to deal with the ongoing issues at the Lethbridge Police Service.
“Second, I also raised concerns around profiling of racial minorities that was in the media at the time and wanted the Chief to hear about my own experience. As Minister, these are concerns that were constantly being brought to my attention. The reason why I was proceeding in the Legislature with Bill 63 to ban carding which I tabled for first reading on April 7, 2021. I wanted to share this personal experience and encounter with the Chief of Police.
“Chief McFee assured me that that was most definitely not the case, and I accepted him at his word.
“I want to be abundantly clear, at no point did I request that the ticket be rescinded. I can assure that in my life I would never do any such thing.
“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. In my role as the Justice Minister and Solicitor General, I have worked diligently to ensure we build a province in which all of us – no matter the circumstances of our birth, economic, religious, social or cultural background can feel respected and welcomed. That’s the definition of my own life and I will continue as long as I have the opportunity and privilege to do so.
“Finally, I have always defended the men and women who put on the uniform to serve. I have the utmost respect for them, and for the invaluable, often thankless role they perform.
“With all these in mind, I am one that always hold myself accountable for my actions. I respect the Premier’s direction for me to take a temporary leave of absence pending the outcome of the independent investigation”.
Meanwhile, Premier Kenney has appointed an independent investigator to review the incident and “to determine whether there was interference in the administration of justice in this case.”
The Premier stated that details of the independent review “will be made public in the near future.”
