Alberta’s suspended justice minister says he called the police chief to check that his profile was not being created. Globalnews.ca

Casey Madu says he understands why Alberta Premier Jason Kenney relieved him as Justice Minister after calling Edmonton’s police chief about a traffic ticket.

Madu says he didn’t call Edmonton Police Chief Dale McPhee to cancel a $300 distracted driving ticket, but understands why people might worry about the call.

“Now I can see how this can be perceived,” Madu wrote in a series of tweets late Tuesday.

“There is a saying that perception is everything in politics and I regret raising this issue with Chief McPhee.

“I paid for the ticket in full and immediately.”

Edmonton Police have confirmed that Madu never asked to cancel his ticket.

The March 10 ticket and subsequent phone call surfaced in a CBC report on Monday. Kenny announced on social media that night that he had suspended Madu from his judicial duties pending the investigation.

Kenny said an investigation by an independent third party would determine “whether there was interference with the administration of justice.”

2:10
Kenny fires Alberta justice minister, orders investigation into calling police chief over traffic ticket

It is not clear whether Madu remains in the cabinet as a minister without portfolio or is now part of the United Conservative caucus backbench.

Kenny’s spokesman Justin Bratinga did not respond to an emailed request for clarification on Madu’s situation or for an update on the investigation. He also did not respond to emails on Tuesday asking whether Kenny and his advisers had been informed of the phone call to Madu’s chief in the first place.

Kenny and Madu have not spoken or questioned the matter publicly.

Critics, including opposition NDP member Irfan Sabir, say it is clear Madu abused his political authority by picking up the phone to call McPhee.

Sabir said Madu should be removed from the post of Justice Minister and added that Kenny needs to question who knows what and when.

Sabir said on Wednesday, “(Madu) is tweeting at 10:30 pm because he doesn’t want to answer questions about his stories and what the premier and his cabinet colleagues were first told about it. “

“We need to know who knew and why nobody did anything. Why is it coming out after 10 months?

“If someone knew and did nothing, what does that really say about the government?”

1:57
Alberta Justice Minister ‘Steps Back’ After Calling Edmonton Police Chief Over Ticket

Former UCP legislator Drew Barnes said Kenny’s decision to leave Madu in limbo was in contrast to other cabinet and caucus members, including himself, who were ousted after challenging Kenny’s policies and leadership.

“This clearly shows the level of partisanship and cronyism under which the Kenny government operates,” Barnes said.

“Here is a cabinet minister who clearly broke the long-held principle of Westminster democracies all over the world and for this he should have been removed from cabinet immediately.”

Madu reiterated in his tweet string that he called the chief to assure him that he was not being targeted by the police because he is black or because he holds a high-profile government post. He said that McPhee told him that was not the case.

Madu also questioned the circumstances regarding the ticket. He said that when he was given a ticket for driving on his phone, his phone was in his jacket pocket.

Both Barnes and Sabir questioned what the investigation would entail, noting that both Madu and McPhee agreed on the main facts.