B.C. government says more oversight coming for dysfunctional municipalities

The ongoing dysfunction in the City of Kamloops has gotten so bad that the B.C. government is considering major changes to the oversight of feuding city councils across the province.

"I've come to the conclusion that this type of behaviour just cannot continue to go on … it is our goal to have something in place before the next election," said Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Ravi Kahlon, responding to the latest back-and-forth accusations between Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and the rest of city council.

"The province is going to step in … so that we can ensure that local governments are serving the best interests of their people, and not having these continuously prolonged infighting situations."

Since the 2022 local elections, a number of B.C. municipalities — including Kamloops, Harrison Hot Springs, Lions Bay, Sayward and Sechelt — have seen the mayor opposed by all or a majority of council.

Accusations of inappropriate conduct toward staff, multiple lawsuits, mass departures of senior staff or external investigations have followed, along with code of conduct complaints and escalating legal fees to resolve the personal disputes.

WATCH | B.C. government to step in amid council dysfunction: 

B.C. government to rein in dysfunctional councils

2 days ago

Duration 2:12

The B.C. government says it's looking at how to rein in dysfunctional city councils. A number of communities — most notably Kamloops — have been paralyzed by councillors and mayors investigating and sometimes suing each other, instead of focusing on city business. Justin McElroy has more on what prompted the government’s action, and how it could deal with the issue.

There is no way to recall local politicians in B.C., and there are only a few situations where mayors or councillors can be removed for legal reasons. The province removed the auditor general for municipalities in 2020, and so far has rejected the Union of B.C. Municipalities' requests to appoint a provincial integrity commissioner to resolve disputes.

Kahlon said Kamloops was just one of many municipalities where dysfunction had sparked a change of heart, and implied that the strategy of hands-off dispute resolution could come to an end, though he said any legislation wouldn't take effect until local elections in October 2026.

"It undermines our democracy, undermines people's belief in the work that we do to make their lives better," he said. 

"And it's unfortunate, but here we are and we have to take steps."

Endless investigations in Kamloops

Kahlon's comments to CBC News were prompted by the two latest reports into the feud between Hamer-Jackson and the rest of city hall. 

A February report to Kahlon from city council, which was made public this week, outlined code of conduct breaches, privacy breaches, investigations and lawsuits that have consumed much of city hall business and cost the city more than $1 million in legal fees. 

"This untenable situation has highlighted the limited ability of current legislation to address such scenarios, leaving municipalities with insufficient tools to protect their operations, staff, and taxpayers from the harmful and expensive actions of one rogue elected official," the letter argued. 

The second report, which was released last week, concerned Kamloops Coun. Bill Sarai secretly recording a heated argument with Hamer-Jackson in January 2023 and denying being the source of it after it became public. 

The investigation by legal firm Young Anderson found Sarai had breached council's code of conduct and his own oath of office. The report recommended council reprimand Sarai, but didn't endorse censuring or lowering his pay, and criticized Hamer-Jackson for not taking part in the investigation.

A council meeting on Tuesday afternoon will consider the report.

"We actually asked Mayor Hamer-Jackson to do very similar things, including a letter of apology, workplace training. He refused to do so … and that's going to be no different from Coun. Sarai," said deputy mayor Mike O'Reilly. 

"We are very hopeful that Coun. Sarai will listen to what the will of council is and will provide that letter of apology and take the training needed."

Mayor says it's political deflection

In an interview, Hamer-Jackson denied any issues with his leadership style, called multiple councillors liars, and maintained that he is the victim of a witch hunt.

"The bottom line is they didn't want me to be the mayor, and they don't believe in the democratic process. And like I said, this is just another deflection," he said. 

"I got staff ... saying, 'Keep going, Mr. Mayor, keep going.' And the general consensus is they want to get rid of the councillors." 

Because of the province's timeline for action, the City of Kamloops will have to resolve its own disputes until next year's local elections, including an ongoing lawsuit by Hamer-Jackson against a fellow councillor, and another by the mayor's former lawyers to get him to pay his legal bills. 

But Kahlon made clear what he thought about the fighting and the legal bills. 

"I'm hoping that we can resolve these issues, but those are dollars that could have gone to infrastructure. Those are dollars that could have gone to important community services," he said.

"If I were a citizen of Kamloops, I would be pissed."