Kamloops, B.C., council removes mayor as city spokesperson

City council in Kamloops, B.C., has moved to stop the mayor from serving as the city's official spokesperson.

Reid Hamer-Jackson has repeatedly feuded with city councillors since he was elected mayor of the B.C. Interior city in 2022. His tenure has seen multiple investigations over an allegedly unsafe workplace, a defamation lawsuit filed by the mayor against a councillor, and the mayor's move to suspend the city's acting CAO in a bid to "change things up."

The drama came to a head earlier this month when a provincially appointed municipal adviser issued a scathing report that criticized how Hamer-Jackson treated his council and city staff. It prompted a non-binding 8-1 vote that called on the mayor to resign.

Now, based on the report's recommendations, Kamloops council has directed the deputy mayor to deliver letters to provincial and local stakeholders — including B.C.'s Ministry of Municipal Affairs — that state the deputy mayor of Kamloops will speak on behalf of the city instead of the mayor.

In an interview with CBC News on Wednesday, Hamer-Jackson alluded to taking legal action against the rest of council for their actions, but said he had not yet sought legal advice on the matter.

In B.C., the role of mayor is largely symbolic in nature — but one primary responsibility is to serve as the face of the city and communicate with other levels of government and stakeholders. Now, that role will be held by the Kamloops deputy mayor, a position filled by a different councillor every month.

"What we're trying to do is we're trying to improve the communication for the City of Kamloops, as well as the council and the will of council," Deputy Mayor Kelly Hall said Wednesday.

"We've seen over the past 17 or 18 months the communication of the City of Kamloops ... deteriorate to a point where we have to make this, you know, quite drastic move."

Hall says the council resolution, which passed in a closed meeting, was not intended to muzzle Hamer-Jackson, but council could not continue to have "disruptions and misinformation" going out to stakeholders on behalf of the city.

The deputy mayor says that, as recommended by the municipal adviser's report, council may be looking at placing other sanctions on Hamer-Jackson to ensure the smooth running of the city.

"There is a need to change that's outlined in that report, but unfortunately, the mayor doesn't think he's done anything wrong," Hall added.

A spokesperson for B.C's Municipal Affairs Ministry said municipal councils have the power to appoint spokespeople.

"The Ministry of Municipal Affairs will continue to be available to provide guidance and additional support as the council works to implement the advice from the municipal adviser," said Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang in a statement.

Mayor alludes to legal action

There have been some recent protests outside city hall in favour of Hamer-Jackson, with protesters alleging the rest of council was attempting to freeze him out of daily operations.

Hall said he respects the right to protest, but asked protesters to look at the municipal adviser's report and the ongoing lawsuits in the city as proof of why the council needed to step in.

"I think if you voted for this individual, you should take a wholesome look at the strategy that you employed as a voter," Hall said.

For his part, Hamer-Jackson says councillors' actions toward him have been part of a co-ordinated strategy that began the day he was elected in 2022.

"I'm sure the night of the election ... if they could have done this, they would have back then," he told CBC News. "I'm positive there's none of them that voted for me."

Hamer-Jackson says he has seen no proof, facts or evidence of alleged bullying and harassment that he is responsible for at city hall, and said he'd be interested in seeing how this matter would be resolved in court.

"They've done a good job of making the whole city look bad throughout the world, almost," he said of his fellow councillors. "And I think that they got to start being held accountable."