COUNCIL IS ON NOTICE

It’s easy, and rather convenient, to dismiss the recent spate of grievances over council conduct as little more than predictable political posturing ahead of a municipal election. That would be the simple but overly narrow way to view what Mayor Naheed Nenshi described as the “erratic behaviour” of some councillors.

Given this council’s track record, something more serious is at play, and has been for some time.

The latest evidence of council dysfunction involves five complaints — filed with the city’s integrity commissioner — concerning distracting or intimidating conduct during council meetings. The seriousness of the accusations is largely unknown, since only one — related to an alleged stabbing motion made by Coun. Ward Sutherland — was made public, through Postmedia reports.

Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot, who’s challenging Nenshi in the fall election, contends intimidation goes both ways during council meetings. “Trust me, this is not a one-way street,” he said. Coun. Brian Pincott, who’s not seeking reelection in October, went much further, saying he has witnessed “a pattern of sexist, misogynistic behaviour” among his council colleagues.

Little wonder that women — already greatly under-represented on council — are loath to seek election. Who’d rightly want to be part of this locker-room environment?

And it’s not the first time accusations of disturbing behaviour have been raised. In late 2014, councillors unanimously agreed to take “respectful workplace” training after a whistleblowers’ complaint revealed a “systemic problem” with conduct in the councillors’ office. Those complaints ultimately led to the creation of an integrity commissioner position at City Hall.

Months later, council banned alcohol use in its offices after the mayor had broadly suggested some councillors had been “blotto” at public events. Little appears to have improved since then.

Even the integrity commissioner, Allen Sulatycky, who was hired to keep council in check, appears exasperated by the juvenile antics he was asked to investigate. Sulatycky, in a report to council that cleared Sutherland of any misconduct while at the same time acknowledging sexist behaviour toward women exists on council, said he will not consider similar complaints of intimidation in the future.

It’s his position that councillors should police themselves as issues arise, which does not leave us with a lot of hope. Councillors have had ample opportunity to change their ways in recent years, without success. If councillors can’t change their ways, voters have the opportunity to do it for them come October.