Former judge to review call from suspended Alberta justice minister to police chief
A retired judge from Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench is to determine whether suspended justice minister Kaycee Madu interfered with the administration of justice.
Premier Jason Kenney's office says Adele Kent will investigate a phone call Madu made to Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee 10 months ago regarding a traffic ticket.
“Kent will determine whether or not the call on March 10, 2021, constituted interference or an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice,” Kenney's spokesman Justin Brattinga said in a statement Monday.
“Minister Madu will provide his full cooperation and assistance.
“During this time, minister Madu will not participate in cabinet meetings and he will not receive his cabinet pay.”
Kent retired from the court last year.
She has been given a deadline of Feb. 15 and Brattinga said her findings would be made public.
Kenney suspended Madu from his justice duties last week after the phone call was revealed in media reports.
Madu has not spoken publicly about the matter but has issued statements on social media.
He has said he did call McFee about the ticket, not because he wanted it cancelled, but to seek assurances he wasn't being unfairly targeted because he is Black or held a high-profile government position. He said McFee assured him he was not.
Kenney's office said Kent is to decide whether, regardless of Madu's intent, the call could be reasonably viewed as an attempt to interfere with justice.
It said Kent “may obtain copies of documents or records directly relevant to the investigation and may conduct interviews with individuals that may have information that is directly relevant to the investigation.”
Critics, including the Opposition NDP, have said the review is not necessary.
They say regardless of intent, having a cabinet minister - especially the justice minister - call the police chief directly about a legal matter of personal interest breaches long-standing protocol on separation of powers and Madu must resign.
Kenney said last week the issue is not clear cut.
He noted that Madu did not ask for his ticket to be rescinded but instead raised larger concerns about issues, including racial profiling.
Kenney has said he knew that Madu had received a ticket but was unaware that Madu had called McFee about it until a week ago, when he directed Madu to step aside.
Political scientist Duane Bratt said the terms of reference for what the judge is allowed to look into are so narrow they call into question why an investigation is needed at all.
“I don't know how this is actually looking at racial profiling. Nor is it looking at when did Kenney know,” said Bratt, with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
Bratt said whether Madu meant to interfere in the administration of justice is an open question, but the fact people could view it that way is beyond doubt.
“(The perception) is an absolute yes. I don't know how you can say otherwise,” he said.
Madu, the only legislature member the United Conservative government has in Edmonton, had been justice minister since August 2020. He is serving his first term in the legislature.
On the morning of March 10, he was ticketed for distracted driving for being on a cellphone while behind the wheel in a school zone. He paid the $300 ticket soon after but not before reaching out to McFee.
Madu, in his statements, has disagreed with the ticket. He said his phone was in his pocket.
That prompted an angry response from Staff Sgt. Mike Elliott, head of the Edmonton Police Association, which represents rank-and-file officers.
Elliott said if Madu believed he was being unfairly treated, there is a complaint process that should be followed that doesn't include a direct call to the chief of police.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Liberal government not immune from auto thefts: 48 vehicles stolen in recent years
Documents tabled in the House of Commons this week show 48 government vehicles were stolen between January 2016 and February of this year, most of them in Ontario.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly at least nine games for violating the league's gender-based violence policy.