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By James Peters

Kamloops Council

Hamer-Jackson’s news of mayors’ caucus resurrection catches Kamloops council by surprise

Jun 13, 2023 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — While Tuesday’s (June 13) Kamloops council meeting was largely smooth and uneventful, one exchange highlighted the major communication gap that still exists between Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and the eight councillors.

Late in the two-hour meeting, Councillor Dale Bass put forward a motion calling for the attempted revival of the B.C. Urban Mayors’ Caucus. Bass suggested modifying it into a council caucus that organizes in order to lobby the provincial government. The Mayors’ Caucus had been quiet since the new term began last November, with many of its previous participants no longer in office.

“Even if we could get everyone together to talk about the big issue that we have, which is safety, security, homelessness, mental health,” said Bass. “Call it whatever you want, we’ve got to find a solution and if we all speak together, we might get more attention from the province than we’re getting right now.”

Once Bass’ motion was seconded and she explained its impetus, Hamer-Jackson stepped in with new information.

“I just wanted to let you know, the urban mayor caucus just got started here,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I just had a meeting this morning.”

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“I wish you’d told me that before I tabled this motion,” responded Bass.

The notion that the B.C. Urban Mayors’ Caucus had been resurrected was clearly a surprise to Bass and her fellow councillors, who pressed Hamer-Jackson for any manner of detail about its activities.

The mayor was not able to provide any insight, including when Councillor Kelly Hall asked him about how often the caucus will meet and what its mandate will be.

“I don’t have any information to tell you. I’m really sorry about that. It just got started, okay?” said Hamer-Jackson.

“So you’re telling me that it’s up and running and it’s started, yet there’s no clarity as to anything that’s going on right now?” continued Hall.

“At this point, that’s right,” responded Hamer-Jackson.

“Was it an email that you got from the 13 other (mayors)?” asked Hall.

“Nothing at this point. Thank-you,” said Hamer-Jackson, who later verbally committed to keeping council updated on the group’s activities.

The B.C. Urban Mayor’s Caucus website has not posted an update in more than a year. Its membership page lists 13 mayors who were in office prior to the October 2022 municipal election. Nine of those 13 are no longer in office, including Ken Christian of Kamloops.