Council votes to oust Councillor Sean Chu from committees

In a unique vote, Calgary City Council has decided it can bar Councillor Sean Chu from joining any standing policy committee, board, or commission – a decision councillors say they took after Chu refused to resign.

“We have a challenge before us that we have not faced before and we needed to take action, as a council we did. We did what we could,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “We will continue to wait and see what the provincial government is interested and able to do.”

The vote wasn’t specifically aimed at Chu, but indirectly, it amended the requirement for seven councillors to sit on each standing committee.

“Many of the committees that are in discussion here might deal with matters of sexual harassment in an employee situation or might deal with financial issues and reporting expenses and so forth,” said Lori Williams, a political scientist from Mount Royal University.

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“Because Chu’s integrity has been profoundly put into question by his own actions, his ability to effectively oversee any council business that might deal with those matters is compromised.”

The vote was made during the organizational meeting of council, where standing committee members are voted on, and it is the informal duty of every elected councillor to sit on one.

The 9-6 vote means Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra will take on extra work on two of the top committees.

“That’s just the way it goes and I’m happy to step up considering this is a matter that’s important, and the majority of council felt it was important as well,” said Carra.

Carra put forward the motion, which saw councillors Sean Chu, Peter Demong, Dan McLean, Sonya Sharp, Terry Wong and Andre Chabot vote against it.

“This is a censure that council can undertake in the absence of him doing what so many of us have stated he should do – which is to resign,” said Carra.

RELATED: Sean Chu says he will not resign amid mounting criticism

Chu, who attended Monday’s council meeting remotely, apologized to his fellow councillors — saying he was sorry to all involved that they have to go through this.

“The damage to Chu’s reputation grows by the day. One has to wonder how long he’ll be able to stand up under this pressure,” said Williams.

Councillor Courtney Walcott voted in favour of the motion but said he’s concerned that this vote only burdens others for the action of one – and says the vote means council is adjusting its ability to hold each other accountable.