Mayor Naheed Nenshi could be in legal trouble over some allegations he made about 'Ready to Engage', the group which opposes the city's Southwest Transitway Project.
The situation began when the mayor said that city staff were harassed and even physically assaulted at a public information session that was held in late February.
The meeting, which took place at the Woodcreek Community Association, was to to discuss intersection operations and stations locations with members of the 16 communities that will be affected by the BRT expansion.
However, the meeting reportedly became very heated and the mayor said he's heard reports of participants pushing, yelling, and swearing at city staff.
He says that the incident is under investigation and, meanwhile, all public information sessions on the project have been cancelled, with online forums taking their place.
“I have personally suggested that all face to face engagement on this particular topic be discontinued, we will have no more open houses. My staff will not be subject to that kind of abuse, my colleagues will not be subject to that kind of abuse," Nenshi said last week.
Now, Ready to Engage is disputing the claims by the mayor and city officials, saying the abuse simply didn't happen.
Spokesman Rick Donkers says that a lawsuit, leveled at Mayor Nenshi, is being considered.
He says that the act of cancelling public engagement meetings is a 'smokescreen' and will allow staff to avoid problems with the project.
"We're hoping to, actually extend an olive branch. This rhetoric is getting out of control. We have to rein this in. This is about a major transportation project that will cost us tens of millions of dollars and we'd like to see a proper dialogue."
Donkers adds that his group is seeking a respectful engagement with city officials and wants their voices heard.
Calgary police say they are investigating the allegations, but have not said anything about charges so far.
Nenshi hasn't commented on the threat of a lawsuit, but he hasn't apologized for the comments he made about Ready to Engage.
He remains adamant that he would not send any of his staff into environments where they could be unsafe.
“It is not right to treat any other human being that way whether you pay their salary or not. It is not a safe workplace. That is why we are not going to have any more of these face-to-face things.”
