He added that Ottawa’s vaccination rules on international travel were never about “science but about political control and power.” The Alberta NDP called on Premier Jason Kenney to remove Madu from cabinet. “Frankly, it’s a new low for this minister,” justice critic Irfan Shabir told CTV News Edmonton. “It basically thanks the Freedom Convoy people who were responsible for so much lawlessness in this country.” “These comments cross the line. It’s disrespectful to the many, many Albertans who got sick, who lost loved ones, who lost jobs and businesses.” Convoys of protesters flooded the streets of Ottawa for several weeks and blocked international borders in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. Four men have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder after they were arrested at the Alberta block in February. “I think the restrictions that were in place federally were based on the advice that the federal government was getting from their health experts,” Sabir said. Madu served as Alberta’s justice minister until he was forced to take a “leave of absence” from the post in January. During a May 5, 2021, update on COVID-19, he said Albertans should follow provincial restrictions. “I expect that law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office will use all the tools at their disposal to ensure that the public health orders are enforced,” Madu said, in a video shared Tuesday by reporter Catherine Griwkowsky .
“HE WILL NOT WIN HIS SEAT”: BRAT
Madu’s comments are now “inflammatory,” a Calgary-based political scientist said, adding that his statement puts the UCP government in a difficult position after imposing its own COVID-19 rules. “Did he support provincial COVID restrictions? Or were provincial COVID restrictions about science and not about political control? After all, he was part of that cabinet. He’s still part of that cabinet,” said Duane Bratt of Mount Royal University. Madu has been a “lightning rod” for controversy since he was elected in Edmonton-South West in 2019, Bratt added. In May of last year, Madu apologized for saying the opposition NDP and federal Liberals, along with the media, want the province’s health care system to collapse from the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, a retired judge found that Madu attempted to “interfere with the administration of justice” over a distracted driving ticket. Kenney removed him as attorney general and immediately appointed him head of labor and immigration. “He’s not going to win a seat in Edmonton, UCP is not going to win a seat in Edmonton,” Bratt predicted. Madu’s comments could also hurt the UCP in other moderate ridings in Alberta, political scientist Lori Williams believes. “This is a very extreme position for Kaycee Madu that could jeopardize the future electoral fortunes of the UCP,” he told CTV News Edmonton. Madu publicly endorses Danielle Smith in the ongoing UCP leadership race. He promised her to “ban lockdowns and the description of vaccines”. “If Danielle Smith were to become prime minister, (Madu) would remain in the cabinet and probably elevated. If Travis Toews, or say Rebecca Schulz, becomes the next prime minister, then I think it’s a harder thing to keep Kaycee Madu in the cabinet.” Williams said. Online reaction to Madu’s tweet was swift and largely critical: CTV News Edmonton contacted the premier’s office about Madu’s comments and also requested an interview with Madu.
