Cal Wenzel suing Mayor Nenshi for $6M

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Bunk

You obviously get bad information. This is not even close to any sort of truth...

This rumour started circulating after you left. I heard it from two very reliable sources close to him. I have no reasons not to believe them.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

How is Nenshi the villain here?

There is substantial evidence (the video) showing an organization, lead by Cal Wenzel, that is conspiring to counteract the efforts of an elected mayor by buying members of council.

Is this not a clear example of the wealthy elite actively degrading democracy?

Or it was a meeting with developers discussing the best candidates for their own interests. Pretty much the very basis of democracy.

Nenshi himself has said he doesn't believe anyone was bought off. You could certainly assume the worst (like I have done so with certain members of council and the taxi industry) but there was nothing explicitly illegal said in that video without reading into something. And again, Nenshi himself has argued in favour of the Councillors elected who were mentioned in the video. Donating to candidates who share common interests isn't exactly the most evil thing anyone has done, more importantly, it's completely legal.

Now of course what Wenzel and the developers did was shady but Nenshi stated that what Cal did was illegal on the basis that Cal donated the maximum $5000 and provided company trucks for use in the campaigns. Nenshi has since explicitly retracted his statement in light of new information (as part of the settlement).

A mayor can't go around calling people criminals without allowing them a proper investigation and trial. That's just as much of a degradation of our society values as anything Cal did. And when he was given an out, a simple apology, he didn't take it. Instead he put potential taxmoney on the line (depending on a vote if the City would foot the bill or not) because he didn't want to apologize. And he ended up apologizing after 2 years. Wasted time and money on egos. Make no mistake, Cal's just as bad in my eyes (if not worse) but he's a private citizen and not an elected mayor.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

This rumour started circulating after you left. I heard it from two very reliable sources close to him. I have no reasons not to believe them.

Tough call here. Do we believe the guy who is entirely credible, worked with him for years and answered all the questions you brought up in this thread, or someone who is obviously not a fan of the mayor and circulating rumours?

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Slava

Tough call here. Do we believe the guy who is entirely credible, worked with him for years and answered all the questions you brought up in this thread, or someone who is obviously not a fan of the mayor and circulating rumours?

No kidding. Thanksed.

[Ozy_Flame]

Slava is 100% right. In fact, Bunk may be closer to the mayor than most other people in this city, and I'd rather believe him than a random guy who disapproves Nenshi even before the comment was made.

[CaptainYooh]

I PM'd Bunk about the sources of the rumour. I said it right away that it was a rumour.

On the issue itself though, is anyone surprised and finding it unthinkable that Nenshi could be or could have been contemplating career in federal Liberal politics? Seriously.

[PsYcNeT]

Policy-wise, I've always seen Nenshi as more of centrist/moderate, closer to a Democrat than a Liberal. We don't really have a federal moderate party, so maybe?

[Cgy Girl]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I PM'd Bunk about the sources of the rumour. I said it right away that it was a rumour.

On the issue itself though, is anyone surprised and finding it unthinkable that Nenshi could be or could have been contemplating career in federal Liberal politics? Seriously.

not even in the least... IMO, seems possible he could end up running for lib leadership provincially. also, you're in tough here, CP tends to be a nenshi fan club

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I PM'd Bunk about the sources of the rumour. I said it right away that it was a rumour.

On the issue itself though, is anyone surprised and finding it unthinkable that Nenshi could be or could have been contemplating career in federal Liberal politics? Seriously.

The rumour is a fair one. Lots of people speculate this. It is plausible he goes into provincial or federal politics at some point, but that was never anything, at least based on my conversations with him, he really considered in the short term.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Cgy Girl

not even in the least... IMO, seems possible he could end up running for lib leadership provincially. also, you're in tough here, CP tends to be a nenshi fan club

Nah... just a few CP'ers...

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The rumour is a fair one. Lots of people speculate this. It is plausible he goes into provincial or federal politics at some point, but that was never anything, at least based on my conversations with him, something he really considered in the short term.

Thank you for the clarification.

That's because Nenshi had no plans for these past elections. Trudeau has won. If he had lost, then there would have been real vacuum at the Liberal leadership and Nenshi could have easily become a strong and supportable candidate. If you believe Nenshi and Chima did not think of that at a higher level than just a passing thought, you are kidding yourself.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Cgy Girl

not even in the least... IMO, seems possible he could end up running for lib leadership provincially. also, you're in tough here, CP tends to be a nenshi fan club

Lol. Nenshi could be invited to do a ceremonial face off at the dome, and instead run out to centre ice, rip the head off a golden retriever puppy, and spike it on the ice, and the CP Nenshi hipsters not only would they blindly defend his actions, they would be telling everyone who didn't why they are a complete moron, and how "below their level of intelligence and understating of politics" they are for not taking the same position.

[Ozy_Flame]

Lol! Even your pee must be salty today.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Thank you for the clarification.

That's because Nenshi had no plans for these past elections. Trudeau has won. If he had lost, then there would have been real vacuum at the Liberal leadership and Nenshi could have easily become a strong and supportable candidate. If you believe Nenshi and Chima did not think of that at a higher level than just a passing thought, you are kidding yourself.

If Trudeau crashed and burned it actually would have my hope that he go for leadership of the federal liberals - then have Chima run for Mayor.

[Tyler]

Chima rules

[Coach]

Originally Posted by pylon

Lol. Nenshi could be invited to do a ceremonial face off at the dome, and instead run out to centre ice, rip the head off a golden retriever puppy, and spike it on the ice, and the CP Nenshi hipsters not only would they blindly defend his actions, they would be telling everyone who didn't why they are a complete moron, and how "below their level of intelligence and understating of politics" they are for not taking the same position.

[V]

I think Nenshi is a smarmy punk with entitlement issues and I agree with him in this instance. What Shane Homes did was totally illegal. Wenzel just happens to have a lot of money.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by V

I think Nenshi is a smarmy punk with entitlement issues and I agree with him in this instance. What Shane Homes did was totally illegal. Wenzel just happens to have a lot of money.

Couldnt agree more. And its total BS that he gets away with it.

The guy just dropped a few hundred grand in his epic quest for...an apology.

Ludicrous.

[btimbit]

Both come out looking like petty morons. I think Nenshi is a good mayor but my main issue with him is his ego and big mouth. He could have saved a lot of money by just apologizing in the beginning. Likewise, Wenzel could have saved a lot of money by not being a child and going after an apology like that.

Just a couple of punks being punks

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by btimbit

...
Just a couple of punks being punks

Agree. But one is spending his own money, while the other is spending (or hoping to spend) taxpayers' money, which makes latter's behaviour and the lack of judgement much worse.

Originally Posted by Tyler

Chima rules

You don't say...