One of the big questions during Calgary’s debate on citywide upzoning is: Where’s Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu?
A public hearing date first set in mid-December 2023, gave councillors months to plan their attendance in what was likely to be the most-participated public hearing in Calgary’s history.
When proceedings began on April 22, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., the Municipal Building was teeming with citizens, politicians and other interested parties for the start of the event.
Except Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu. He hasn’t been in-person since the public hearing began.
In fairness, Coun. Chu is participating online. He pops in to ask a question to a panelist on occasion, as a reminder of his participation in this event, which many have said is one of the most important in Calgary’s history to homeowners.
LiveWire Calgary has sent two texts to Coun. Chu inquiring about his in-person absence. One has been marked as read (7:18 a.m.), but LWC has received no response to questions. We will update our story if a response is provided.
In February, Calgary city councillors approved amendments to the Code of Conduct for Elected Officials pertaining to remote participation. It suggested councillors may on occasion participate remotely, “provided they are in an appropriate and secure location free from distractions with their camera on and no background used.”
It also said best efforts must be made to attend council or committee meetings.
“However, remote participation may occur in exceptional circumstances where attendance is impossible or impractical, including urgent personal or medical matters, or when out of town for the purpose of City business.”
Councillors say they’re unaware of colleague’s whereabouts
When asked earlier this week on the whereabouts of Coun. Chu for the public hearing on citywide rezoning, Mayor Jyoti Gondek told the media to ask the councillor directly.
That’s been done.
His colleagues on council were aware of Chu’s participation online but didn’t know why he wasn’t participating in person.
Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp said that Chu’s been participating, with his camera on at all times.
“Every member of council has things going on in their private life,” Sharp said.
“Myself, I’m a mom, I’ve got some things I’m going to have to step away for. This, it takes a lot out of all of us, too. We are human. Vacations that have been planned previous to this; I can’t speak to that. Vacations being planned after this; this public hearing can go on forever.”
Coun. Andre Chabot said he’s not a fan of non-personal participation.
“But if you are at the very least in 100 per cent attendance, you’re visually there and participating in discussions, far be it for me to stand in the way of progress and improvements by virtue of improved IT,” he said.
Coun. Jasmine Mian, who is the mom of a 7-month-old, and advocate for flexibility in remote participation, also directed questions of whereabouts to the councillor himself. Mian has largely participated in-person for the duration of the public hearing.
“I certainly think it’s important to come in person anytime that you can, but people have unique family circumstances that are going to take them to places where they need to be virtual,” she said.
“I think that’s up for each and every individual councillor to explain when they’re virtual or not in the room, why that is the case. That’s up for their voters and constituents to weigh in on.”
Maybe present, but paying attention?
While 13 other councillors and the mayor have largely been in chambers, they have been chastised on a couple of occasions by panelists for not being engaged in the proceedings.
Michael Speers told councillors that he dealt with ADHD and seeing councillors on their phones or other devices was distracting to him as he was presenting.
Another panelist told councillors he felt that when they aren’t looking at speakers and instead flicking away at their phones that it was disrespectful to those who came to speak.
Coun. Chabot said that he tries to engage as much as humanly possible.
“Many times, when members of council are actually listening to a public submission, there are times when some of the submissions include interactions amongst members of council, he said.
“So, while it may look like we are disengaged, in fact, we may be actually even more engaged than people realize, just because the conversations influencing some of our communications back and forth.”
Chabot said that there’s very little free time for councillors to tackle other tasks, particularly during a public hearing. They have short breaks, but oftentimes those are filled with interviews (like the one he did with media) and doing things like responding to emails.
“We don’t work 12 hours a day – we work in excess of that and we’re still getting buried,” he said.
“We’re doing our best. We’re human.”
