Calgary Mayor Nenshi Sued Over ‘Godfather’ Comments

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has been named in a defamation lawsuit filed over several comments made by him including calling Shane Homes founder Cal Wenzel as a “godfather.” These comments were made by Nenshi in light of a video showing Wenzel outlining to a group of fellow home builders, prior to the October 2013 municipal election, a plan to defeat members of city council who are being deemed as being against the interests of home builders. 

During the interview conducted on Oct. 9, Nenshi related the scene in video to be similar to a scene “out of the movie [The] Godfather.” Upon inquiry from the host if Nenshi was calling Wenzel the Godfather, he replied “maybe.” The defamation suit filed on Nov. 13 claims that the mayor’s remarks have damaged Wenzel’s reputation, along with a statement alleging that Wenzel and his family received an anonymous death threat. None of the allegations have been proven in court. The mayor has failed to file a statement of defence since he is away on vacation, due to which he has also not been served with notice of the lawsuit.

Nenshi speculates during the interview that Wenzel could have been in violation of election laws.  The mayor alleged that the video reveals potential illegal activity at the hands of home builders’ involvement in the Manning Centre, i.e. a conservative think-tank founded by former head of the Reform Party of Canada, Preson Manning. The video shows Wenzel discussing how 11 home builders have donated $100,000 each, i.e. a total of $1.1 million, to the Calgary-based centre. 

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