𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧–𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

At Tuesday’s Kamloops City Council meeting, councillors approved a motion calling for a performance audit of organizations holding BC Housing-funded contracts—an initiative first introduced by Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson.

The motion aimed to ensure taxpayer-funded housing and harm reduction programs are delivering measurable outcomes. In principle, it was a sound proposal—one rooted in accountability and data, not politics.

During debate, councillors proposed amendments to refine the language and strengthen the motion’s credibility with the provincial government. The revisions made the proposal clearer, more strategic, and more likely to succeed.

But rather than recognizing that collaboration could improve his idea, the mayor resisted. He frequently interrupted discussions, dismissed others’ input, and grew visibly frustrated as colleagues worked to make the motion stronger. His unwillingness to consider alternative perspectives turned what could have been a shared success into a political standoff.

When the final, improved version came to a vote, the mayor opposed it—effectively voting against his own initiative. It was a self-defeating move that left many observers puzzled.

After the meeting, the mayor said he believed most of his motion had passed and called it “a win for the people of Kamloops.” Yet the irony was hard to ignore: the motion succeeded precisely because council was willing to do what he was not—listen, collaborate, and refine a good idea into a better one.

Despite the tension, the outcome remains a positive step, and a letter will be sent to provincial leaders requesting a review of BC Housing programs to assess whether taxpayer dollars are meeting their intended goals. The review would analyze safety and emergency-call data to identify systemic issues and suggest improvements.

Whether the Mayor will sign his name to the new council-crafted version of his motion is something we'll have to wait and see.

Read the Armchair Mayor article: ROTHENBURGER – Mayor puts on an unmayoral performance at meeting