Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas has called for the establishment of a lobbyist registry at city hall, citing an ongoing RCMP investigation involving former and current city council members as evidence of the need for greater transparency.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Farkas stated that he and several other councillors are drafting a notice of motion requesting administration to examine how other Canadian cities have implemented lobbyist registries. The move comes in response to allegations of corruption that have surfaced during the investigation.
Investigation Details
On Wednesday, a Calgary court heard updates on the RCMP probe, which involves former mayor Jyoti Gondek, former Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu, and a local consultant for developers. The investigation centers on allegations that the consultant offered campaign donations exceeding legal limits to council members in exchange for their support on reconsideration motions for failed land-use applications.
According to an affidavit read in court, the consultant, David White, who runs CivicWorks—a company that helps developers navigate city processes—allegedly provided donations above the maximum allowed. In return, councillors were expected to table reconsideration motions for their clients' applications.
These allegations have not been proven in court.
Court Proceedings
The investigation became public in March when Mounties confirmed they were looking into corruption accusations linking current and former council members and a local business. Officers conducted searches and seized electronic devices from Gondek, Chu, and current Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot.
In court, a lawyer for the Calgary Police Service requested an extension of a warrant to search Gondek's phone, noting the former mayor was unwilling to provide her device's passcode. Gondek's lawyer, Rebecca Snukal, argued that her client's vote was irrelevant to the outcome and that she has an unqualified right under the Charter to deny access to her phone.
Mayor's Statement
Farkas emphasized that regardless of the investigation's outcome, the situation has raised important questions about influence and decision-making at city hall. He stated, "Calgarians deserve to know who is seeking to influence public policy, who they are meeting with, and on whose behalf they are acting."
He added, "Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate that decisions at city hall are being made in the public interest, and that our institutions are worthy of the confidence Calgarians place in them."
Farkas clarified that his understanding of the matter comes solely from public reports and that it would be inappropriate to speculate on the facts or individuals involved.
Next Steps
The notice of motion being drafted by Farkas and his colleagues will ask administration to conduct a jurisdictional scan of other Canadian cities with lobbyist registries. However, it remains unclear whether such a registry would be allowed under the Municipal Government Act.
