LOCAL JUNE 6/25 headlines read:
“Report on Sarai’s Tapegate results in slap on the wrist.” -Armchair Mayor
“Councillor Sarai breached oath by recording mayor and covering it up.”-Infonews
“Investigator finds Kamloops councillor breached code, oath of office over secret recording.” –Castanet
Imagine being convicted of a crime you didn’t commit, stripped of your freedom and your reputation damaged — based on a lie. Then later, the truth comes out. The evidence was flawed. The accuser lied.
In any just system, your conviction would be overturned, your name cleared and those responsible held accountable.
Not so in Kamloops. City council commissioned two formal reports — Honcharuk and Braun — built in part on allegations made by Councillor Bill Sarai. Those allegations have since been proven false.
Sarai was found in breach of council’s Code of Conduct and issued a formal apology. And it wasn’t the city’s $38,641 third-party investigation that uncovered the truth — it was the RCMP, who compelled Sarai to correct the record.
In other words, over $38,641 in taxpayer dollars was spent confirming what police had already established. That money wasn’t used to deliver an impartial investigation — it was used to support a narrative that no longer holds up.
The consequences that followed speak volumes. Councillor Sarai — who admitted to making the false allegation — remains in office and was even appointed chair of the Governance and Service Excellence Committee, the body tasked with overseeing ethics and accountability.
Meanwhile, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson — who was the subject of the false allegation — continues to face financial and political consequences, including the removal from boards and a significant reduction in pay.
This isn’t about defending or endorsing the mayor’s leadership style. Public officials are open to scrutiny — and rightly so. But what matters here is consistency. That is not accountability. That is a double standard.
Council and CAO Byron McCorkell had the option to hire a truly independent investigator with no prior ties to the city. Instead, they selected someone already connected. Investigator Reece Harding investigated multiple Code of Conduct complaints in the past. As is standard in any legal matter, the investigator ultimately answers to the client. In this case, council was the client — and the result was predictable.
This isn’t just flawed governance. It’s a breakdown in public trust. We call for the following actions to be taken immediately:
This situation is not about personalities — it is about principle. When a process is built on a lie and those responsible are rewarded while others continue to be punished, it undermines the very foundation of public service. A city cannot claim to value transparency while protecting those who mislead.
Kamloops residents deserve a council that applies the same standards to everyone — fairly, consistently and without political bias. The longer this goes uncorrected, the deeper the erosion of public confidence.
As city council is turning a blind eye when the misconduct comes from within its own ranks, we ask that you sign and share this petition to compel them to act ethically.
“Tapegate” audio of the mayor and Councillor Sarai: https://youtu.be/0ah01c07ZYw
Bill Sarai Must Resign From City Council Petition: https://www.change.org/p/bill-sarai-must-resign-from-city-council
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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.
