Sutherland best to shelve mime bit, stick to politics
‘I simply should have not done that. And I simply will not do it again’: councillor
“My mother is 86. She raised, as a single mom, five kids, and I have two daughters. And I got people saying I’m hating women, et cetera.”
When it comes to at least hating Mondays, Calgary city councillor Ward Sutherland has the jump on all comers: the mere fact he feels the need to make the above public statement is all the proof required.
Yet the recent troubles for the man who represents Ward 1 residents are entirely of his own making.
During a council meeting on May 8, a video recording shows what appears to be Sutherland making a stabbing and “twisting the knife” motion in the direction of Coun. Druh Farrell, who at that moment has the floor and her back to him.
At the lunch break on Monday, Sutherland is a rather defiant figure.
He says he wasn’t doing it to the Ward 7 councillor, but rather to Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot, in some sort of inside joke between the two men.
Coun. Ward Sutherland issued an apology of sorts Monday for having a “sidebar” conversation during last week’s public hearing at council but dismissed allegations his backstabbing gesture was aimed at a female colleague and charges of sexist behaviour.
“Last week, there was a film where I had a very animated side conversation with another councillor while council business was being conducted,” Sutherland said in council chambers.
“I simply should have not done that. And I simply will not do it again. So I apologize for doing that.”
But the Ward 1 councillor stuck to his story that the gesture — which some interpret as miming “pushing a knife” into Coun. Druh Farrell’s back — was directed at Coun. Andre Chabot about another, undisclosed, matter.
“It wasn’t intended for Druh Farrell at all. And that’s the truth,” Sutherland told reporters shortly before delivering his mea culpa.
The video, recorded during the May 8 council meeting, shows Sutherland glancing at his smartphone while Farrell is standing and delivering remarks on a landuse item.
He’s then seen looking past Farrell, extending his arm in her direction, repeatedly twisting his closed fist as though he’s holding a knife and then feigning dead.
Chabot has corroborated Sutherland’s version of events.
However, both refuse to divulge the context of their conversation.
Coun. Brian Pincott, who filed a formal complaint Friday asking the city’s integrity commissioner, Allen Sulatycky, to review the episode, has said the gesture could only be interpreted as Sutherland “twisting a knife” into Farrell’s back.
Farrell reacted by permanently swapping seats with Coun. GianCarlo Carra in council chambers on Monday.
“I don’t want to be distracted while I’m in council. We have serious business to do, and this is incredibly unprofessional regardless of what was meant by the gesture,” Farrell told reporters.
“It’s important that we talk about systemic behaviour leading up to somebody feeling comfortable expressing this kind of thing in council, on camera,” she said.
“We’re trying to encourage more women to run on council. It’s important that we have more women to more represent the population that is Calgary and I hope this doesn’t discourage women from putting their names forward.”
Sutherland tweeted the wording of his apology.
However, Farrell quickly noted she couldn’t read it because Sutherland had blocked her from viewing his tweets.
When asked to respond to charges of sexism, Sutherland said:
“Well, I think you need to ask my mother. Like I said (I was) raised by my mother. I have two daughters, come on. It’s political, nothing more. It’s very sad.”
He added “half the case is already solved” and that he looks forward to speaking to the integrity commissioner and the outcome of the investigation.
Regardless of interpretation or explanation, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Sutherland’s behaviour was unacceptable and that Calgarians deserve and expect more of their elected officials.
“Some people are saying it’s misogynistic and juvenile, some people are saying it’s just juvenile. Either way, that kind of behaviour is not acceptable,” he said.
“Even if you believe his story to be true ... we had councillors who weren’t paying attention, who were joking about something else, who were texting one another on the very day that we had a discussion at council about respect at a public hearing,” Nenshi said.
“I think citizens deserve better than that.”