KANATA, Ont. - Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien will remain on the board of Calian Technologies Ltd. despite allegations he offered former rival Terry Kilrea incentives to drop out of the 2006 election that have resulted in criminal charges.
Calian, which provides technology services and personnel to companies and governments, said O'Brien has made a "valuable'' contribution as a director and may keep his seat as long as he has the necessary time to devote company affairs and complies with Toronto Stock Exchange regulations.
The board of directors "has concluded that until the issue is resolved through the legal system, Mr. O'Brien will continue to have a positive impact on the company and therefore his departure from the board is considered unwarranted,'' chairman Kenneth Loeb said in a statement.
Ontario Provincial Police laid criminal charges against O'Brien on Monday in relation to his alleged offer to rival candidate Terry Kilrea to drop out of the city's 2006 mayoral race.
One of the inducements, according to a sworn statement by Kilrea, was the offer of a federal appointment to the National Parole Board -- to be facilitated through senior advisers and a cabinet minister in the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
Both criminal charges would appear to relate to that allegation.
Shares in Calian were up two cents at $13.13 in midday trading on the TSX.
