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Code of Conduct

Kamloops mayor asks city to look elsewhere for its independent investigators

Jun 20, 2025 | 2:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — The mayor of Kamloops is attempting to put the brakes on a Code of Conduct investigation he kickstarted “until an independent and impartial investigator” is assigned to it.

In a news release sent to media at 12:30 a.m. Friday (June 20), Reid Hamer-Jackson said he does not want Reece Harding of the law firm Young Anderson to investigate the complaint (2025-0025) he made about the conduct of Councillor Dale Bass.

“In order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of this process, I believe we must do things differently,” Hamer-Jackson said in a statement. “The citizens of Kamloops deserve a process that is impartial, transparent and fiscally responsible.”

According to the city, that complaint is one of two investigations that are currently in progress. It dates back to April and while it does not name names, Hamer-Jackson confirmed in his statement that it is connected to Bass.

“The Complainant (member of Council) alleged the Respondent made public statements which the Respondent knew or ought to have known were false or misleading,” the subject of the complaint on a new City of Kamloops webpage said.

This particular complaint has also cost $3,314.10 in fees to date, according to the city.

In a letter to CAO Byron McCorkell asking for the pause, Hamer-Jackson said he is concerned about Harding’s appointment as investigator. Harding has investigated several previous complaints and authored reports into three of the four complaints that have been substantiated to date.

Two of those substantiated complaints were against Hamer-Jackson while the other was against Councillor Bill Sarai. The fourth substantiated complaint was also against Hamer-Jackson though it was investigated by Sarah Chamberlain of Southern Butler Price.

“I am formally requesting that this investigation be postponed immediately due to the city’s failure to honour my original request for an independent investigator — preferably someone not affiliated with a law firm or, at the very least, a law firm that has had no prior ties to the City of Kamloops,” Hamer-Jackson’s letter to McCorkell said.

“While I included this request in my initial complaint, I delayed submitting a formal objection to allow time for council and administration to consider and act on it. It has now become clear that no such consideration has been given.”

“This request is grounded in fairness, transparency and public accountability — principles that form the foundation of my integrity and the very reason I ran for mayor,” Hamer-Jackson added in his letter.

Hamer-Jackson went on to say that Harding and he “share a strained professional history that raises legitimate concerns about the potential for bias on both sides.” He has – on several occasions – refused to be interviewed by Harding to share his side of the story, believing it to be “a waste of taxpayers money.”

In the letter, the mayor also questioned the city’s hiring process around investigators, alleging that “the lack of clarity over who [at the city] is making these decisions casts serious doubt on the integrity and independence of the process.”

“In open council, I asked why Mr. Harding continues to be selected. Mr. McCorkell, you responded that there is a list of qualified investigators and that the city contacts them in order of availability,” the mayor said in the letter, adding he hasn’t received a copy of that list.

Hamer-Jackson wants the city to use other “qualified, independent, fiscally responsible” investigators who have no ties to Kamloops when conducting code of conduct investigations.

“Members of the Private Investigators Association of British Columbia (PIABC) are fully capable of conducting this type of investigation and-according to information I’ve received — at approximately one-quarter the cost typically billed by legal firms,” Hamer-Jackson said.

“If not a PIABC member, then at minimum a neutral, qualified law firm with no past or current ties to the city should be considered.”

Mayor wants independent forensic audit of City

This letter to McCorkell follows a notice of motion from Hamer-Jackson that is expected to be discussed at the June 24 council meeting. He wants the city to hire an accredited company to conduct an independent forensic audit of city departments and management practices.

Hamer-Jackson said his motion is in response to “growing concerns from residents regarding rapidly increasing property taxes, cost overruns and a perceived lack of transparency in municipal operations.”

“This motion is not about assigning blame. It’s about identifying opportunities to improve how we operate, reduce waste, and restore trust in City Hall,” Hamer-Jackson said in a secondary statement, noting the city is in “seriously challenging financial times.”

“Citizens are facing record tax increases and they deserve to know their money is being managed with care, efficiency and full accountability.”

He also said any councillor who opposes his notice of motion should “be prepared to explain why they would resist greater transparency and accountability.”