'I will not be resigning,' says embattled Fort McMurray councillor

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Coun. Krista Balsomsays she won't give up her council seat, despite being asked to resignfor violating conflict-of-interest rules,.

Instead, Balsomsaid she will challenge the decision in court.

"After close consultation with family, supporters and community members I have decided I will not be resigning," Balsom said in a statement Thursday.

"I believe strongly in the principle of fairness and due process and I look to a favourable outcome in the courts."

• Fort McMurray councillor embroiled in conflict of interest violations asked to resign
• Fort McMurray councillor who violated conflict of interest rules withheld key information, report says

Balsom's fellow councillors voted Tuesday to issue a letter to herrequesting her resignation.

The request followed an independent investigation into allegations that she violated conflict-of-interest rules underthe Municipal Government Act by voting on certain issues during the 2018 budget process.

The investigation found Balsom would not have been approved to vote on the budget matters if she had disclosed all of her business contracts with groups that receive funding from the regional municipality.

The municipality's legal services department knew about one potential conflict. But it later surfaced that Balsomfailed to disclose several other contracts her marketing company held with organizations that receive funding voted on by councillors.

"I apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused my fellow council members and constituents, but I believe that I will be cleared in the fullness of time," Balsomsaid in the statement.