Labor Minister Kaycee Madu took to social media Tuesday afternoon after news of Canada’s plans to drop its border-based COVID-19 vaccination requirements broke. “It was never about science but about political control and power,” Madu tweeted. “Thank you to all those citizens, escorting freedom, who had the courage to mobilize against these tyrannical policies. They endured a lot of hate, abuse, suffered and are slandered on behalf of all of us. I thank them!” The tweet sparked some controversy, with many criticizing the minister for his words. It was never about science but about political control and power. I thank all those citizens, convoys of freedom, who had the courage to mobilize against these tyrannical policies. They endured a lot of hate, abuse, suffered and are slandered on behalf of all of us. I thank them! https://t.co/E9talumDtW — Kaycee Madu (@KayceeMaduYEG) September 20, 2022 Story continues below ad

		Read more: Alberta labor and immigration minister sparks controversy over vaccination mandate tweet 		
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			Alberta Labor and Immigration Minister Stirs Controversy Over Vaccine Mandate Tweet

So far, Kenney has refused to comment on Madu’s tweet, claiming he doesn’t monitor what’s happening on the social media platform. “I don’t actually follow Twitter,” he told reporters in Toronto on Wednesday at a news conference about the “Alberta is Calling” campaign. “If you want to hear Minister Madu’s views or a clarification from him, I suggest you speak to him.” Kenney also accused reporters of being “supporters of the race” at another unrelated news conference Wednesday, refusing to answer off-topic questions even though he had done so in the past. “I know for some of you in the media, your job in politics is to be a campaigner. My job is to be a labor advocate,” Kenney said. Trending Stories

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Randy Fulton, one of Madu’s constituents in southwest Edmonton, called the minister’s tweet “stupid.”

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“(Protesters) think someone should go to bat for them. The themes they created were their own creation. Nobody asked them to do that,” Fulton said. Story continues below ad “(The protest) was stupid – and for Madu to come out and join them is stupid on his part because it was a few creating a situation for the many and that’s not right.” Fulton also said the minister’s decisions have an impact on his driving. “We are the voters in his riding. Whether we agree with him or not, he makes (the decisions) and we buy them. It might come back to haunt him at some point,” Fulton said. “Elections are coming and time will tell.”

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Others pointed out that Madu was a high-level minister in the government throughout Alberta’s mandated and lockdown response to the COVID-19. As justice minister in May 2021, Madu, who is also a lawyer, told reporters that while he was not directing police and prosecutors, “it is an expectation that law enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service will deploy all the tools available to them to ensure that public health (COVID) orders are enforced.” Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, also questioned Madu’s motivation behind the tweets. Story continues below ad Madu has endorsed United Conservative Party leadership candidate Danielle Smith, who has promised to reject any public health restrictions due to COVID-19. 1:45 Premier Kenney addresses Kaycee Madu on phone call with EPS chief on traffic ticket Premier Kenney addresses Kaycee Madu on phone call with EPS chief on traffic ticket – January 20, 2022 “(Madu’s) not just a former minister of justice, he’s still in the cabinet and he’s been in the cabinet throughout COVID,” Bratt told Global News on Tuesday night. “Were Federal COVID Restrictions About Political Control, Not Science? What about the provincial restrictions it was part of? Was it for political control and not science? “I think this is less about the caucus than the UCP leadership race. He has supported Danielle Smith.” Global News reached out to Madu’s office for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication. This story will be updated if received. Story continues below ad — With files from Demi Knight, Global News and Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.