UCP MLAS simply don't respect the rule of law

Party has shown more than once it can't be trusted, writes Irfan Sabir.

There is a long-standing parliamentary convention that when members of the legislative branch of government become the subject of criminal, judicial or quasijudicial proceedings, they must distance themselves from positions of power and decision-making roles, up to and including removing themselves from cabinet and sometimes caucus.

This separation is critical to avoid any perception that those in positions of power are above the law and to ensure that they do not use their influence to undermine the independence of investigative processes or the court system in order to help themselves. This fundamental principle distinguishes healthy democracies from authoritarian regimes. In broad terms, this is what the rule of law is all about.

In March of 2021, the UCP'S then attorney general, Kaycee Madu, called the Edmonton police chief after receiving a traffic ticket for distracted driving.

The UCP concealed this from the public until the media reported on it in February. Only then did Premier Jason Kenney task retired Justice Adele Kent to look into this serious matter. In her report, Ms. Kent confirmed that Minister Madu had attempted to interfere in the administration of justice.

This is a firing offence for any cabinet minister, and for the attorney general, breach of a crucial constitutional convention. But Premier Kenney's response was to mislead the public about Ms. Kent's findings and welcome Madu back into cabinet as minister of labour.

There was not a word of concern from former attorneys general Doug Schweitzer or Sonya Savage. The attorney general, Tyler Shandro, himself the subject of an investigation by the

Law Society of Alberta, is also fine with keeping Madu in cabinet.

This is not an isolated incident. UCP MLA Peter Singh is under police investigation but still sits in the government caucus, without any protest from his colleagues. Another UCP MLA, Devinder Toor, was fined $15,000 for accepting illegal campaign donations and filing false statements with Elections Alberta. He remained in caucus during the investigation and remains there now, despite having broken the law.

Meanwhile, when the former elections commissioner probed deeper into fraud during the 2017 UCP leadership race, the premier fired him. A number of the UCP MLAS and ministers have been reached out to by the RCMP in relation to this race. More recently, the RCMP has interviewed the premier himself even as he campaigns to replace the RCMP with a provincial police force.

Finally, UCP MLAS openly cheered for and one even participated in the illegal blockade at Coutts that included heavily armed extremists now charged with conspiracy to murder police officers.

This unlawful blockade cost almost $800 million in damage to Alberta's economy. These MLAS have never been disciplined by the UCP caucus.

Regardless of whether Jason Kenney retains the UCP leadership, or someone wrestles it from him, the UCP has proven itself incapable of understanding, let alone respecting, the rule of law.

No matter who is the leader after May 18, Albertans can't trust the UCP.