File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

CODE OF CONDUCT

Hamer-Jackson’s claims of bias in code of conduct probes unfounded: investigator

Sep 11, 2025 | 4:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — On May 9, 2025, Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson complained that investigator Reece Harding was biased and should not be allowed to investigate City of Kamloops code of conduct complaints put forward by himself.

Documents now made public on the city’s website show once the allegation was leveled by the mayor, the investigator stopped all current investigations regarding the City of Kamloops to undergo a bias review.

“Having conducted a thorough bias review in accordance with the legal process laid out by Canadian courts, the investigator concluded there was no actual or perceived bias requiring disqualification,” reads the conclusion posted to the city’s website.

In the full 20-page report, Harding lists the reasons that the mayor felt there was a bias.

Credit – City of Kamloops / Young Anderson

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Harding also stated that the mayor declined to provide any evidence or submission on the issue of bias to back his claims.

Credit – City of Kamloops / Young Anderson

Harding then went into detail regarding the two individual cases that Hamer-Jackson took issue with, explaining again his findings.

Credit – City of Kamloops / Young Anderson

Credit – City of Kamloops / Young Anderson

Harding also noted he has ruled in Hamer-Jackson’s favour in other matters.

Credit – City of Kamloops / Young Anderson

With no bias found, Harding was able to continue several current investigation within Kamloops city hall. However, Hamer-Jackson requested that council postpone his complaint against another councillor until a new investigator could be appointed.

Council scheduled a closed meeting to consider the request from Hamer-Jackson and to hear his reasoning. The mayor did not attend.

Credit – City of Kamloops / Young Anderson

The probe into the unfounded allegation of bias cost Kamloops taxpayers $9,534.01.

The full report can be read here.