Kaycee Madu has been removed as Alberta’s justice minister after Premier Jason Kenney shuffled his cabinet on Friday and released findings of an investigation into a phone call Madu made to Edmonton’s police chief about a traffic ticket.
“The report concludes that Minister Madu did not interfere in the administration of justice but that the phone call could create a reasonable perception of interference,” Kenney said in a statement.
Madu was asked by the premier in January to “step back” from his role as minister of justice and solicitor General but will remain in cabinet, taking on the labour and immigration portfolio, CBS reports.
Tyler Shandro, who had been labour minister, will take over from Madu as minister of justice and solicitor general.
Shandro had previously been health minister before being replaced by Jason Copping.
Sonya Savage, who had been acting as justice minister and solicitor general during Madu’s leave of absence, will continue as energy minister
In January, Madu telephoned Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee to discuss a $300 distracted driving ticket he received on March 10 last year.
After the revelation, Kenney asked Madu to step back from his cabinet position while an independent review examined if the call constituted interference in the administration of justice.
In his statement Friday, Kenney said investigator Adèle Kent, a former Court of Queen’s Bench judge, found Madu’s motivation in making the call “was not to reverse the ticket but to raise broader concerns, particularly related to racial profiling.
“Nevertheless, as Ms. Kent concludes, ‘being angry, wanting assurances that he was not racially profiled are all understandable reactions, given the context of the phone call. It does not absolve Minister from responsibility, but it is an explanation that deserves recognition,'” Kenney said.
“Given her findings, and the unique role of the office of the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, I have concluded that it would be appropriate for Minister Madu to step aside from that position.”
Kenney said he looks forward to Madu’s contributions as minister of labour and immigration.
Madu will lead “important reforms to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program and continued implementation of the Fairness for Newcomers Action Plan to help break down barriers to the economic success of immigrants,” Kenney said.
Madu will help to deliver on the Alberta Work Initiative, a key part of Budget 2022’s plan to connect unemployed Albertans with available jobs through expanded training programs.
