Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said working with Coun. Sean Chu has jeopardized her safety after he took a photo of her vehicle licence plate, which surfaced online. .“I am not comfortable liaising with Coun. Chu’s office or entrusting him with the responsibilities of deputy mayor,” said Gondek at a Tuesday special council meeting. .Chu apologized to Gondek. Her response was to decline the apology. .“I don’t want to bore the public with my reasoning, but I accept the punishment, which is that I’m not allowed to park in the executive parking lot, but I have to park in the public parkade,” he said. .The meeting was called to discuss revoking Chu’s position as deputy mayor next month amid a sexual assault controversy. He stepped down as deputy mayor before the vote could be held. .Chu said this meeting is a distraction from Calgary city council's low approval rating. .Calgary city council also voted on Tuesday to remove Chu from a committee linking the city with HMCS Calgary after a senior naval officer called Gondek. .Royal Canadian Navy Cmdr. Adriano Lozer said he chose to act because he owes it to his crew members, some of whom are survivors of sexual harassment. Lozer said staying silent was not an option. ."That would not be true to our values and ethics and I would be letting down people in my organization," he said. .Gondek said Calgary city council has limited powers in taking action against him. .Former Alberta municipal affairs minister Ric McIver said in 2021 he did not have the authority to remove Chu from Calgary city council. .“I have received a response from Brownlee LLP, the external firm selected to review the Municipal Government Act,” said McIver. .“While the minister of municipal affairs has supervisory jurisdiction over municipalities, the minister does not have authority to simply remove a councillor from office under the legislation, particularly for events that took place before a councillor was elected.".Chu said in 2021 he had no intention of resigning as a city councillor, but he apologized to the woman who had the sexual encounter with in 1997. .READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Chu vows not to resign, apologizes and speaks out on allegations.Chu was re-elected by 52 votes after the sexual assault allegations resurfaced one week prior to election day. .“This was nothing but a political assassination,” he said. .He met a 16-year-old girl at a pub near Macleod Tr. and 94th Ave. while he was a Calgary police officer. He assumed she was at least 18 because she was in a licenced establishment. .The evening continued with Chu and the girl heading to his home. They started kissing and hugging, but there was no intercourse. .He admitted there was some touching underneath clothes. She asked him to go home, and he drove her back. .After the incident, the girl reported the case to Calgary police, alleging she was sexually assaulted. That lead to nine years of investigations, court battles, and appeals. .Gondek said she has found herself in a situation where she cannot chair the Dec. 6 council meeting. .“Coun. Chu would have to start the day with a recognition of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women,” she said. .“This is the position we find ourselves in, and the reason why I have called this special meeting of council.” .Chu will be replaced as deputy mayor by Coun. Andre Chabot in December and Coun. Courtney Walcott in May. .The accuser at the centre of the Chu controversy told a police disciplinary hearing he sexually assaulted her while holding a gun to her head. .READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: 2003 hearing ruled Chu’s accuser ‘not to be believed’.Calgary police Insp. Debbie Middleton-Hope said this testimony was uncredible and not to be believed..The sentencing hearing took place in 2003 and lasted eight minutes..A letter of reprimand was placed on Chu's file.
