Counsel accuses of "bullying" behind closed doors and "abject lie": colleague

Calgary Coun. Jeromy Farkas said he was intimidated by his colleagues during a private session of the council on Tuesday morning.

The Council was on the second day of discussions on the proposed four-year budget when it met in camera to hear an update from the municipal administration on collective bargaining with the local government. unions of cities.

When the meeting resumed a few minutes later, Farkas was furious.

During the meeting, his colleagues publicly criticized the city's budget, Farkas said. They simply gave up on him, enough to lose the quorum of eight, the minimum number of members required to fill the position. meeting.

"I think what just happened there was incredibly unfair … it's a fundamentally intimidating behavior," he said.

"As soon as I can defend myself and speak, the council is organizing a walkout.It's incredibly unfair.I think it's disrespectful not only for me as a council member but for the residents of Ward 11 that I represent. "

& # 39; When you play with fire … & # 39;

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the situation should prompt Farkas to reflect on his own behavior.

"I appreciate what you are saying, Farkas, but I also want to point out that when you play with fire, it can happen if you constantly treat your colleagues disrespectfully, both around this table and at the table. in public, "he said.

Coun. Jyoti Gondek was not willing to give any reason for Farkas's complaint.

"To say that the council organized a walkout, Farkas County, is an abject lie … I can not sit here and listen to you say that you are being bullied," he said. she declared.

Farkas often went against his colleagues.

Last week, his colleagues accused him of having done much by sending a statement asking the council to freeze the pay, after another councilor had already filed a notice of motion on the same subject.

He was also asked to apologize on several occasions and it was established that he had violated the council's code of conduct.

Nenshi told the media that he thought Farkas' colleagues were frustrated by repeated "rude" comments that the advisor had made outside the council chamber.

"He is treated with extraordinary respect and deference, even if he honestly says incredibly rude things about his colleagues and his administration when he's not in the room with them," he said. he declared.

"Frankly, I'm not so worried about this because … we never make decisions in camera because we're not allowed to do it."

Farkas said that he could not comment in detail on the reasons why, according to him, his colleagues were attacking him, as was said behind closed doors, but he intends to continue to challenge advice and to ensure that more debate is opened.

"If I am attacked, I will defend myself, I will continue to speak on behalf of the Calgarians I represent."

The debate on the proposed budget should take place all week.