Calgary city hall booze allegations overblown, says Coun. Ward Sutherland

Allegations this week by Mayor NaheedNenshi and Coun.Druh Farrell might lead you to believe that working at City Hall is one big party.

• Calgary city councillors accused of alcohol, drug use on job

Nenshi says he has heard reports of councillors getting "blotto" at community events.Druh Farrell says there have been "wild parties" in council offices.

But Coun.Ward Sutherland weighed in on the CalgaryEyeopener Thursday morning with his views on these comments. Here is an edited transcript of his conversation with the hostDavid Gray:

• Listen to the full interview by clicking the audio button above

David Gray (DG): What do you make of Coun.Farrell and Mayor Nenshi's comments?

Ward Sutherland (WS): I'm embarrassed.It's really unfortunate we're even talking about this right now. With the turning of the economy and what's going on, we have much bigger priorities.

But what happened on Tuesday is really disappointing. It was completelythewrongforum to even bring this up. It was a committee meeting, and to make allegationsand generic allegationsof councilin publicwith no proof, and not to give specifics is even more irresponsible.

It got into every paper.It put us right beside the Ford scandal, it put a black mark on our council and it embarrassed our city.

DG: Have you ever been blotto at a community event?

WS: (Laughs) Absolutely not. Now we're finding out in the paper today, these supposed incidents occurred in 2007. It apparently was a Christmas party.One staffer drank too much, got sick, drove homeand there were no parties allowed after that.

DG: Can we get to the underlying issue here, if there is one? Is there a problem with city councillors having a drink at lunch, or at dinner, and then coming back and making decisions? Is it something that needs to be addressed?

WS: Not on this council. I have neverseen any councillors drink at lunchtime, drink at the break.I've never seen any councillor drunk, ever. People have been very, very responsible.

So I don't know what the hidden agenda is here.I don't really understand how this story even came out.

What the real issue is, we don't have a process at council offices for when an individual does not act appropriate, because they are a boss.There isn't a process for that employee to ask for a resolution.

I totally agree with that. We need an outside adjudicator.Councillors need to be held up to that standard.I totally support that occurring.

DS: If we can go back to the issue about alcohol and councillors, is this a temperance movement inside city council? Where is this headed right now?

WS: We're going to have more discussion. The premise of it wasall the policy should be the exact same as a regular City of Calgary employee. So the question came up.OKit's shift work, you work 8-4. Well, we're on the job 24/7.

I normally work a 70 hour work week. What if I'm at mylocal pubrestaurant with my wife, we're having dinner, we're having a glass of wine, someone recognizes mebecause this has happenedand asksme questions.

Well, right then and there I'm representing Calgary and I'm on the job. So I've now broken the policy.

DG: What does this do to the effectiveness of thiscouncil, the ability to work together? Are theresome hard feelings on council right now?

WS: Absolutely, we've been painted with a common brush. Of course they're upset.I'm upset. Categorically I can say I'm not tied to any of this, but why do we even have to defend ourselves?

This is something that should be in house. It can't be resolved in the media. We need a proper process. It should be dealt with in-house just like any HR issues. That needs to happen.