Madu thanks 'freedom convoys' for mobilizing against Ottawa's 'tyrannical' pandemic policies

Alberta's minister of labour and immigration has taken to social media to criticize Ottawa's "tyrannical" pandemic travel restrictions and thank "freedom convoys" for their efforts against them.

In a tweet responding to news about the federal government potentially ending COVID-19 border requirements, Kaycee Madu said the measure was "never was about science but about political control and power."

"Thanks to all those citizens, freedom convoys, who had the courage to mobilize against these tyrannical policies," readthe remark on Madu'sTwitter account on Tuesday.

"They endured a lot hate, name calling, suffered and vilified on behalf of all of us. I thank them!" continued the tweet from the former solicitor general and minister of justice.

The comment came after it was reported Tuesday the federal government is leaning towarddropping the vaccine requirement for people entering Canada ending random COVID-19 testing at airports and making the use of the ArriveCan app optional by the end of this month.

Such travel restrictions were among the pandemic measures that ignitedlarge protests earlier this year, including thosethatjammed streets inOttawa for several weeks and blocked international borders,like at Coutts, Alta.

Four men werecharged withconspiring to murder RCMP officers following arrestsat Couttsin February.

Alberta protestors also opposed anumber of COVID-19 rulesintroducedin the province, including mask mandates, vaccine requirements, gathering limits andbusiness restrictions. All have since been lifted.

Madu had previously voiced support for at least some of those public health measures.

In May of 2021, Madu posted in the comment section of another user's Facebook pagethat his government needed to impose stricter public health measures or run the risk of leaving Albertans "in field and makeshift hospitals, gasping for breath because we have [run] out of ventilators, manpower etc."

On Wednesday, asked about Madu's remarks, Premier Jason Kenneysaidhe doesn't monitor Twitter and suggested that if reporterswant to hearthe minister's"views or clarification from him," they should talk to him.

CBC News calledMadu's press office for furthercomment.

Kenneysaid his government was consistentlyopposed to "unnecessary" federal travel restrictions, specifically the ones implemented in December of last year andare still in place.

However, he stood by the decisions made by his own government.

"Our commitment to Albertans was not to allow our hospitals to be overwhelmed," Kenneysaid.

"We did intervene with some difficult decisions at various times to reduce transmission, and we had hard decisions to make, just like every government in every part of the world."

He saidAlberta had the least-restrictive COVID regime in Canada.

While Kenney did not weigh in on Madu's remarks about the "freedom convoys," NDP Leader Rachel Notleysaid they should not be getting thanks from the former UCPjustice minister.

"The Coutts blockade was illegal," she wrote on Twitter.

Lori Williams, a policy studies professor at Mount Royal University, said she was surprised that a former justice minister would make such "cavalier" remarks.

"I was just sort of struck that a former justice minister would champion the activities of people who, some of whom, broke laws, some of whom violated the rights and freedoms of other Canadians," she said.

"The decisions that are being made are primarily based on on health care."

Earlier this year,Madu was ejected from his position as Alberta's justice minister after an investigation found he attempted to interfere with the administration of justice.

An inquiry was launched in January following revelations that Madu had telephoned Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee to discuss a $300 distracted driving ticket he received on March 10, 2021.

Due to the report's findings. Kenney felt Madu should no longer be justice ministerbut would remain in cabinet.