Following the Calgary Integrity Commissioner’s investigations, the city council voted Tuesday to sanction two councilors for violating their code of conduct.
The integrity commissioner presented three reports and the council voted in favor of sanctioning two councilors: Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra and Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean.
Carra was involved in two of the reports, one of which involved failing to disclose his financial interest in a property in Inglewood.
Ellen-Anne O’Donnell, the integrity commissioner, wrote in a report that Carra made an initial payment of $ 300,000 to the Inglewood property in 2015.
But Carra did not reveal his interest in the property until 2021, the commissioner wrote, made problematic by the “numerous opportunities” the councilor had to reveal it over the years.
“I could accept the initial lack of disclosure of interest in 2015 as a real misjudgment, as the Carras made a payment to a joint-stock company that owns the land, and I accept that Councilor Carra believed at the time that this was not the case. it was tantamount to an interest in real estate, “O’Donnell wrote.
“However, I cannot find according to the weighting of probabilities that the lack of continued disclosure was trivial or inadvertent after March 7, 2016, as Councilor Carra knew and stated that he had an economic interest in the property at that time. data “.
Carra had revealed at a public meeting on that date that he had an interest in the Inglewood property, the commissioner wrote, when the councilor abstained from voting on a notice of motion related to the lifting of a restriction on the community. .
“Subsequently, there were multiple events that would have marked the need to disclose Councilor Carras’ interest in the Inglewood property in accordance with the disclosure policy and code of conduct, ”O’Donnell wrote.
“While Councilor Carra described not disclosing his interest as a ‘clerical decommissioning’, I cannot accept that it is, given the numerous opportunities he had to disclose it.”
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek says discussions on sanctions are difficult, adding that she hopes all sanctions will be met. (Mike Symington / CBC)
The integrity commissioner noted that Carra fully cooperated with the investigation and answered all questions raised, and admitted that he did not comply with the disclosure policy and code. He also voted along with the rest of the council, agreeing to sanctions against him.
The integrity commissioner presented a second report on Carra that focused on tweets that disparaged his fellow councilors for “actively politicizing” with Coun. Sean Chu, received news that the counselor was disciplined for physical contact with a 16-year-old girl in 1997 while he was a police officer.
The City Council ordered Carra to issue a public apology letter, do training on document management and social media and not be allowed to chair any council committee until this October.
Mask sanction
The report involving McLean referred to the councilor organizing an event at a restaurant last December.
A complaint was filed because he was not wearing a mask, violating provincial and municipal health orders.
The City Council voted to reprimand him and asked him to attend an ethics course.
“I will continue with the sanctions. I find it a bit trivial with the other big things we are dealing with in the world that come after a councilor for a maskless photograph,” McLean said.
Carra did not comment on the two issues related to him, but Mayor Jyoti Gondek acknowledged that these were tough discussions for the council.
“There were people who were sanctioned for actions they took and that can be emotional. This advice is made up of humans, not machines,” Gondek said.
Gondek said he expects all sanctions to be met.