File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

City Hall

Kamloops mayor to revive push for social housing audit at Tuesday meeting

Nov 4, 2025 | 6:00 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson will try once again to advance one of his signature campaign issues at council’s regular meeting Tuesday (Nov. 4).

Hamer-Jackson introduced a notice of motion calling for an independent performance audit of BC Housing-funded facilities in Kamloops that provide harm reduction services, such as shelters and supportive housing.

In December 2023, after a similar motion from the mayor, council voted to send a letter to the provincial government expressing satisfaction that it was not ordering such a review.

At the time, Hamer-Jackson argued local social agencies would welcome an audit.

Councillor Bill Sarai responded that council would welcome such a process as well, but had to accept the government’s multiple refusals to launch an audit.

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In introducing this Notice of Motion during the October 21 council meeting, Hamer-Jackson already encountered resistance from his colleagues around the horseshoe. Councillor Nancy Bepple asked Corporate Officer Maria Mazzotta whether council could accept a motion that includes the derogatory term “drug housing” to describe facilities that provide harm reduction services.

“I take exception to the term ‘drug housing,'” said Bepple. “It is frequently used as a derogatory term that stigmatizes individuals with drug dependencies.”

“The meaning of the motion could stand as is by just calling [them] ‘harm reduction facilities,'” she continued.

Mazzotta responded councillors could propose amendments to Hamer-Jackson’s motion when it is up for debate at this Tuesday’s meeting.