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Asked about his ailment, Chiarelli pointed to his doctor’s letter sent to the city in October and made public, but he wouldn’t explain further.

The letter said Chiarelli suddenly fainted on Oct. 12, lost consciousness and was transported to an emergency room by ambulance. At the time, his doctor said there was a cardiac evaluation and tests were ongoing. Chiarelli’s “stress levels continue to be high,” the doctor wrote on Oct. 22.

“My health is not very good right now but as it improves I’ll be doing a bit more and more of what I can do,” Chiarelli said outside city hall. “There will be a bit of a setback in the next coming days and then hopefully when I’m able to I will be able to do that.”

Chiarelli said he couldn’t comment on the allegations because of the integrity investigation and a court process he plans to initiate. He doesn’t believe the integrity commissioner has the jurisdiction to investigate the complaints and has said he believes it’s a matter for a human rights tribunal.

The veteran councillor denies the allegations, which include claims that he directed staff to gather intel from people at strip clubs.

It was a striking scene behind the velvet ropes of the council horseshoe as some councillors flipped over their blue recycling bins and used them as makeshift standing workstations during the council meeting. Many of them stood the entire time Chiarelli was there and almost all were standing at their chairs at various moments in the meeting.