Alberta MP denies courting far-right protesters in Ottawa

St. Albert-Edmonton MP Michael Cooper is distancing himself from a group of protesters who claim he met with them at an Ottawa restaurant.

The group has been accused of harassing politicians and reporters near Parliament Hill.

On Tuesday a post by former freedom convoy participant Chris Dacey featuring a photo of Cooper and members of the group thanked Cooper for “taking time to speak to concerned Canadians this evening.”

Press Progress posted video that depicts the camera holder rushing to the front of the restaurant to greet the MP.

“We’ve got a Conservative in the house,” a female voice is heard saying, while the video depicts Cooper speaking with another woman. “Thank you for coming, there, Mr. Cooper.”

The video ends abruptly; Cooper does not respond to the woman.

Cooper denied he was attending the party in a post of his own on X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday, accusing the “NDP-Liberals and their friends” of spreading lies.

NDP-Liberals and their media friends are spreading lies about me.

See my statement. pic.twitter.com/P0cBlaSSyb

— Michael Cooper, MP (@MichaelCooperMP) September 18, 2024

“I went to a restaurant in Ottawa to have dinner,” a photo of text attached to the tweet reads. “At the restaurant, I was recognized by a group of people who approached me and took photos.

“I am in no way associated with these people and was not meeting with them.”