Former Calgary Mayor Joti Gondek’s chief of staff received a six-figure pay after his job was abruptly terminated less than 100 days after he was hired, CTV News has learned.
Stephen Carter was fired for undisclosed reasons on February 2, receiving $ 104,166.65 in compensation, according to a copy of a letter from the city of Calgary published Wednesday under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.
Carter was Gondek’s campaign manager during her successful election campaign in October 2021. Prior to that, he worked for former Mayor Nahid Nenshi and former Prime Minister Alison Redford.
Asked what was behind the decision to shut him down and what the Calgary taxpayers should do to pay Carter, Mayor Gondek was brief, downplaying the issue.
“This is an issue I am not discussing,” Gondek told CTV News. “I was advised to keep quiet about it. This is a personal matter that I am not talking about.
“I find it interesting that we continue to choose the little things that don’t matter in the big scheme of getting our city back on track.”
CARTHER HOLDED IN THE DARK
Carter declined to be interviewed on Wednesday, but made a statement saying he had never been given a reason for his sudden dismissal.
“I think my departure was granted for two reasons: to make sure I was not talking about the unfair nature of my dismissal and to avoid awkward litigation,” Carter wrote.
He went on to say that there was no waiver agreement.
“If the dispersal around me and my character continues, I may be prompted to take action in court,” he said.
At the time of Carter’s dismissal, some councilors, including Sonia Sharp and Andre Chabot, were critical of his approach to collecting councilors’ votes, saying they had complained to the town hall.
“UNHAPPY IS NOT ENOUGH”
Calgary employment attorney Joel Fairbrother of Bow River Law says there are many reasons why someone may receive such a payment, even after a short period of work.
“According to the law, you either receive compensation or not. So someone can be entitled to x, if he is entitled to x, he is entitled to x, even if he was a mediocre employee, or if they were the best employee ever. “
He says it is possible that the reason for the mayor’s office not saying anything is that there is not enough evidence to prove that something happened.
“It’s always the case that the employer is not happy with who they’re firing, otherwise they won’t be fired,” Fairbrother said.
“So the unfortunate are not enough. If they don’t have enough to come to a just cause, it’s better not to claim it, it’s better to pay or negotiate an agreement. “
‘ABSURD
Nevertheless, Carter’s payment leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who keep a close eye on government waste.
“This is important for taxpayers, and it really shows disregard for the hard-earned taxpayers ‘money,” said Franco Terrazano of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation.
“Carter barely reached noon and left with six-figure compensation while the door slammed behind him?” That’s absurd. “
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