Councilors formally request that the Gian-Carlo Carra real estate deal be investigated

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Two Calgary councilmembers will formally request an investigative report on Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra will be referred to the police and the province’s ministry of municipal affairs.

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A notice of motion filing the application, co-authored by Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness and Ward 1 Earl. Sonya Sharp will be heard at the council’s executive committee meeting on Wednesday. It will then likely go to the council meeting on July 26 for discussion and vote, the last meeting before the summer break in August.

He asks that the integrity commissioner’s investigative report into Carra’s dealings with the property at 66 New Street SE be forwarded to both the Calgary Police Service and the office of the minister of municipal affairs for “review” and “taking action.” appropriate measures”.

Although he asks that the matter go to the local police, he also asks them to refer it to another police force, as necessary, to avoid a potential or perceived conflict.

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Carra previously served on the Calgary police commission but had to step down from that role after an investigation was launched into an alleged incident in Calgary earlier this year.

That investigation was referred to the Edmonton Police Service in April and results are expected in the coming weeks.

The motion cites the fact that Carra did not include his interest in the property on the required council disclosure form and that he did not have a signed and documented financial agreement surrounding his $300,000 real estate investment as the reasons for the referral.

Wyness said he wants to refer the matter to other agencies to maintain public confidence in the city’s political system.

“There is limited scope and resources in our integrity office to do a full report, as we have seen with the many stories that are coming out,” Wyness said. “To regain the public’s trust in the office of aldermen and the city council, we must eliminate the perception that we are judge and jury of our peers.”

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Earl Sonya Sharp, who also signed the motion under her name, agreed with Wyness’s view that it is not the council’s job to pass judgment, but said the council has a duty to consider accountability and transparency in matters such as East.

“It’s also very clear that the integrity commissioner found a problem, but the integrity commissioner’s job is to look solely at the Code of Conduct,” Sharp said. “There are other documents that must be considered, such as the Municipal Government Law, which actually deals with pecuniary interests.”

Mount Royal University political science professor Lori Williams said she understands the new councilors want to make sure ethical standards are strong, but she also worries the air won’t clear after an investigation.

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She said she is particularly concerned about how it could be handled by the municipal affairs ministry, which she says has taken ideological positions before.

“There’s always the question of whether things will become clearer, or whether there might be implications or questions about motivations if this is investigated by bodies that have been less than objective in the past,” Williams said.

She said an independent police force might be a better way to investigate the matter, but there could be a danger if investigators draw mixed conclusions.

“It’s not clear to me if that’s going to settle the matter one way or the other,” Williams said.

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