Calgary officials worry RCMP investigation breeds ‘healthy mistrust’ in city council

Kathy Le has the latest on an investigation by the RCMP into current and former members of Calgary's City Council, including former mayor Jyoti Gondek.

Calgary’s mayor says councillors connected to an ongoing RCMP investigation are not the focus of the probe, as concerns grow about the potential impact on public trust.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas says the investigation focuses on a third party.

“My understanding at this point is that no member of council – past or present – are the targets of an investigation," he said.

“However, certain evidence that they may have, in terms of text messages or emails they received, are being submitted to the RCMP to be able to support the investigation of a third party.”

The RCMP’s Federal Policing Northwest Region is investigating a complaint originally referred by the Calgary Police Service in October 2025.

The probe involves connections to former mayor Jyoti Gondek, Coun. Andre Chabot and former councillor Sean Chu.

No charges have been laid.

Chabot has said he is fully co-operating with investigators after being served with a warrant in March, adding he would have handed over what police wanted, even without that document.

“I am fully compliant. I have nothing to hide,” he said earlier this week.

“I’m hoping that they can get something out of it that they can utilize.”

Chu’s lawyer, Shamsher Kothari, said his client is co-operating and respects the legal process.

In a statement, Kothari said: “No charges have been laid and I look forward to a swift conclusion of this investigation.”

Gondek also said in a statement: “I’ve been fully co-operative and respect the legal process.”

“At the same time, this has been very invasive and my lawyer and I will be reviewing it closely to ensure it was justified,” the former mayor said about the search.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said little is known publicly about the case.

“I have no understanding what it is about at all, and I would just say that we just have to wait for the process to play out,” she said.

Police have released few details about the nature of the complaint, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Experts say the limited information is fuelling speculation.

“We’re kind of accustomed to expecting accountability and transparency. And the transparency part simply isn’t here in this case,” said Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University.

“And that leads to all kinds of speculation about what might actually be going on.”

She said the situation could affect public confidence in elected officials, even if no wrongdoing is found.

“It may actually erode some of the trust or confidence in elected officials. It may feed perceptions of or expectations of corruption,” she said.

At city hall, some councillors say the uncertainty is being felt internally.

“I believe there’s a healthy mistrust in council and in this administration right now,” said Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston.

Johnston said councillors have not been given much information about the investigation.

“We’re in the dark. I think it would be important for the administration and for whoever’s investigating whatever’s going on to let us know as governors to ensure that we’re on the same page,” he said.

The RCMP reiterated in a statement that, “to protect the integrity of this ongoing investigation, we have no further comment at this time.”