Judge to rule Friday on conflict allegations against Winnipeg mayor

WINNIPEG – Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz was not in court Tuesday, but his high-profile lawyer was, arguing the mayor did not violate conflict-of-interest rules.

In 2010,  Katz hosted a city staff Christmas party at his restaurant on Ellice Avenue, Hu’s Asian Bistro.

The $3,034.35 bill was billed to the city under Katz’s brother’s restaurant at Shaw Park, Hu’s On First.

Cathay House restaurant-owner Joe Chan is suing the mayor, suggesting he violated the city’s conflict-of-interest act by using his influence as mayor to host the party at his restaurant and billing taxpayers.

Lawyers for both sides were in court Tuesday debating whether Chan’s case against the mayor had enough merit to go ahead.

Proceedings got off to a slow start as both lawyers argued over how to proceed with the case.

“This is going to be a long day, isn’t it,” the judge joked.

High-profile lawyer David Matas is representing Chan in court. He argued the mayor knew the conflict-of-interest act, he knew he was in violation, and he knew he could get away with it. Matas said the judge should remove Katz from office.

But Matas said Chan only wants the mayor to pay the bill out of his own pocket.

“It’s a Christmas party for goodness sake,” said Robert Tapper, Katz’s lawyer.

Tapper argued when the mayor’s office booked the Christmas party, they didn’t think it it was a conflict, and he said the mayor was not doing it to benefit himself.

“Putting the city through an election which we all know costs millions, all over $3,000,” said Tapper.

Tapper brought up the conflict-of-interest case that almost cost Toronto Mayor Rob Ford his job.

“The mayor of Toronto has a number of issues,” Tapper joked, “happily my client does not drink. All kidding aside, the facts of the case are very different.”

The judge reserved her decision until Friday.

The hearing took place in a packed courtroom at the Winnipeg Law Courts.