Calgary Coun. Dan McLean speaks amid racist video controversy

Calgary Councillor Dan McLean is seemingly addressing the controversy around two videos he is facing backlash for.

McLean took to Facebook to share his comments in a video and written statement Friday.

The councillor was slammed on social media after videos in which a group of men is heard making racist, sexist, and hateful comments surfaced. One of them features the voice of a man who is off-screen, with some people claiming that to be McLean.

“Due to recent events that have unfolded on social media, I felt it necessary to release this statement — this video — but firstly, I want to be just very, very clear,” McLean said in his statement on social media. “All my life I have always deeply admired and respected the cultures and histories of First Nations people — Metis and Indigenous — since one of my first girlfriends, to good friends from Rae-Edzo, Northwest Territories, to many families that I got to know from the four bands from Maskwacis, and of course lots of good people here that live on Treaty 7 lands.”

Despite many on social media calling him out, McLean has previously said he “has zero recollection” of any involvement.

In the video Friday, McLean says his “dear friend,” Alice Marchand, who is standing next to him, is a residential school survivor and a spiritual advisor to him. Marchand says she is “very honoured” to have McLean represent Ward 13 where she lives.

“I just ask that all of you take care of each other, and we settle our differences in a positive way so that everything can be for all of us, all of us on this planet,” Marchand said. “We need to learn to get along, as we go through our journey of life and I’d like to thank Councillor Dan McLean for all that he has done for me personally.”

McLean then calls for a “brighter future” where politicians, the media, and social media users “quit using religion and culture to divide us.” He then says “we need to work together towards our path towards reconciliation” before the video ends.

In the written statement accompanying the video, McLean says he “prayed, cried and talked about how we all need to do better” Friday morning.

“…Listen to each other with respect on this continuing journey of reconciliation and understanding. On my own personal journey I recognize that I have made mistakes in the past and for that, I sincerely apologize,” he said.

However, it appears McLean’s statement doesn’t go far enough.

Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra took to Twitter to say he doesn’t view McLean’s video as an apology.

“Apologies are an essential part of any journey towards reconciliation. But before anyone — and particularly a leader — can truly apologize, they must confront and share the truth of why they, or anyone, might engage in such behaviour in the first place,” Carra said.

“Recollections of playground retellings of that horrendous joke came flooding back when I heard my colleague Dan McLean’s distinctive joke retelling it again in this day and age, on video,” Carra said.

“No one today can plausibly plead ignorance — especially people in positions of leadership, including Dan McLean.

“I call on my colleague to take those steps on his journey towards offering a real apology.”

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek broke her silence on the matter when she spoke with reporters Friday.

“I’d like to take a little bit of time to reflect on it. I will probably call [McLean] again, and we will see what the public has to say about this,” Gondek said. “It is something that we all take quite seriously.”

“I have to uncover the truth, and I have to listen, and then move toward reconciliation. And I expect that from all of my colleagues as well.”

A photo shared online, taken in what appears to be the same location, shows McLean sitting with the two men.

Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner also called for McLean to apologize Thursday.

Two of the men in the video have been identified as former Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis, who served under Premier Jim Prentice, and Calgary businessman and political activist Craig Chandler.

Guardian Law, the firm of which Denis is a member, sent CityNews the following statement: “A member of our firm has been targeted with online harassment. We now have evidence that these videos are being doctored. The police are engaged.”

CityNews has reached out to Chandler for comment.