Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Coun. Sean Chu clashed Tuesday over the mayor’s explosive comments made during his recent trip to Boston about Uber and Calgary’s enforcement operation against the U.S.-based company’s drivers.
It began innocently enough.
Representatives from Calgary Economic Development were providing the city’s priorities and finance committee with an update on its 10-year economic strategy. So far, so good.
Following the presentation, Chu asked Calgary Economic Development CEO Mary Moran to clarify the agency’s recent trips to U.S. cities, some involving Nenshi, to lure investors, entrepreneurs, and companies to Calgary.
Moran explained some of the excursions were exploratory in nature, while others, like the recent visit to Los Angeles to pitch Calgary’s new film centre to top Hollywood producers, were more explicit in their mission.
Then Chu lobbed a grenade into the discussion as he suddenly shifted his focus to Nenshi’s trip to Boston in April and the potential legal implications of the mayor’s comments about Uber.
Nenshi was caught on camera in April by his Lyft driver in Boston making disparaging remarks about Uber staff and calling its CEO, Travis Kalanick, a “dick.” He also suggested the city used sex offenders and violent criminals to test Uber’s background screening process.
The mayor apologized for his comments after the video was made public. City Hall’s new integrity commissioner is now reviewing the matter on council’s request.
Here’s a full transcript of the testy exchange between Chu and Nenshi:
Chu: “I cannot help myself about the latest thing in Boston. Right away, the one word that popped into my mind is liability. There’s rumours flying everywhere about Uber is going do something.”
Nenshi: “You have to stop now. You have to stop now. You’re being inappropriate. You’re being inappropriate, and you have to stop.”
Chu: “I’m just asking the question.”
Nenshi: “You have to stop. You can’t talk about ongoing legal action in this forum. And by the way, there isn’t any…”
Chu: “The rumour…”
Nenshi: “Councillor Chu. As a councillor, you do not comment on rumours in a public forum.”
Chu: “You do that all the time.”
Nenshi: “Well, you shouldn’t. I know you do…”
Chu: “I have the floor. Thank you. Thank you very much chair. Are you done?”
Nenshi: “I am, but I will cut off your mic if you continue.”
Chu: “OK. Thank you. You know what? You should calm down a little bit.”
Nenshi: “Councillor Chu. I’m entirely calm. Please don’t ask me to call you to order.”
Chu: “You’re shaking.”
Nenshi: “Councillor Chu.”
Chu: “Yes?”
Nenshi: “Thank you very much for your medical advice. We’re moving on now to the next speaker.”
Chu: “I haven’t finished here.”
Nenshi: “I’m sorry. Councillor Pootmans please.”
Chu: “I haven’t finished…”
Nenshi: “I cut off your mic, I’m sorry.”
Chu: “I have the floor.”
Nenshi: “As the chair I have the right to call any member to order, and I’ve just done so. So, Councillor Pootmans please.”
Chu: “I challenge the chair.”
Nenshi: “Feel free. All in favour of the challenge?”
Only Chu voted in favour of his challenge, and the meeting continued without further incident.
Would you vote for Sean Chu?
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Originally Posted by killramos
