Councilors shrug off Sean Chu’s remote participation in public hearing

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Calgary city councilors say they don’t know why one of their colleagues is tuning in to the general rezoning hearing remotely, but appears to be adhering to council’s new virtual attendance policy.

Three days after the marathon public hearing in which more than 800 Calgarians signed up to share their opinions on a controversial citywide rezoning proposal, Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu is the only member attending the meeting via livestream.

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Chu, who usually attends council meetings in person, has not responded to media questions about where he is participating from. On Monday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said, “You would have to ask her” when she was asked if she knew where Chu was or why she is participating remotely.

Three other councilors answered questions during Wednesday’s noon meeting about their colleague’s absence. The three said Chu had not revealed why he would not personally attend the public hearing.

“To be completely fair, Count. Chu has been participating,” said District 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp, noting that her camera has been on the entire time.

“Each council member has things to do in their private lives. I am a mother and I have things that I will have to stay away from. This also takes a lot from us. We are all humans”.

New rules aimed at limiting remote participation in meetings

In March, the council approved changes to its procedural bylaws and code of conduct that limit its ability to attend meetings remotely, a provision that has been permitted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

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Under the amended bylaw, a councilor must disclose his or her reasons for participating in a meeting virtually to Integrity Commissioner Ellen-Anne O’Donnell. The new rules stipulate that remote participation should only occur “in exceptional circumstances,” when attending in person is impossible or impractical.

Councilors must only participate virtually “on occasion,” according to the statute, and in an appropriate and safe place, free of distractions, with the camera on and without using a background. Chu appears to be following the new rules to the letter; When he addresses the hosts, his webcam shows him in a dark room with nothing in the background other than closed blinds and a ceiling fan.

“Honestly, I’m not a fan of non-personal participation, but if you are at least 100 percent attentive, you are there visually and participate in the discussion, far be it from me to get in the way. of progress under improved IT,” said Ward 10 Coun. André Chabot.

“It’s not something they have to reveal to the rest of us.”

When charter amendments were first discussed in February, District 3 Rep. Jasmine Mian proposed adding a provision allowing councilors to participate in meetings remotely, as long as their personal circumstances fell under protected grounds. by the Alberta Human Rights Act.

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Mian had a baby last summer and, until the new attendance policy was passed, frequently attended council meetings virtually.

“I certainly think it’s important to come in person whenever possible, but people have unique family circumstances that will take them to places where they need to be virtual,” he said.

“I have no idea why someone is virtual when they are virtual. It’s not something they have to reveal to the rest of us.”

O’Donnell did not respond to Postmedia’s request for comment on Wednesday, but Dr. Emily Laidlaw, the council’s ethics adviser, said she could not legally respond if Chu had revealed her reason for working virtually.

“Every board member is my client and any communication I may have with them is protected by attorney-client privilege,” he said.

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