File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Build Kamloops

Group sues to have Kamloops councillor removed, citing conflict of interest over arena multiplex location

Nov 6, 2024 | 10:25 AM

KAMLOOPS — A group of Kamloops residents has launched a lawsuit against Kamloops councillor Mike O’Reilly in an effort to have him removed from council.

The 10 residents filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court Thursday (Oct. 31). Their agent is listed as Paul Lake resident Bronwen Scott.

The basis of the suit is that O’Reilly has, or appears to have, a financial interest in the location of the recently announced four-sheet arena multiplex to be built at 2070 Hillside Drive.

O’Reilly is the president and CEO of Comet Industries, which owns a 190-acre plot of land on Iron Mask Road slated for a light industrial park. The councillor also chairs the Build Kamloops Select Committee that chose the location for the arena project.

The petitioners say O’Reilly and his company stand to benefit from the construction and operation of the arena multiplex, which will be four kilometres away by city-maintained paved roads.

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Under the B.C. Community Charter, elected officials cannot participate in council or committee meetings discussing matter in which they have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest.

The lawsuit seeks to have O’Reilly disqualified from council for the remainder of the current term, which expires in 2026. It also asks the judge to nix the current arena multiplex location and force the city to launch a new process to decide the facility’s location “in broad consultation with the wider community.”

In response to the suit, O’Reilly released this statement to CFJC Today:

“I was alerted to this disqualification petition over the weekend. I will share my next steps in a few days once I have thoroughly reviewed the information. I do want to express that in my role as an elected City Councillor, I have always conducted myself with transparency and integrity, recusing myself from any discussions or decisions where there could be a conflict of interest. I look forward to clearing up this matter as soon as possible.”

Petitioners:

• Thea Dunn
• Beat Klossner
• Patrick Snell
• Roxanne Engli
• Gerd Dessau
• Deborah Kuipers
• Patricia Carlson
• Howard King
• Denis Walsh
• Christine Schieberle