Council elects not to push for third-party review of Kamloops-based B.C. Housing facilities

“There comes a time in this community when the government has spoken to us time and time again where, as council, (we have) to take a stand and continue to show the support and the willingness to work with the agencies,” said Hall.

But Hamer-Jackson noted the rejection Hall is referring to happened in 2021. It came from the desk of the minister responsible for B.C. Housing at the time — David Eby, who is now the premier.

Hamer-Jackson argued asking the province again for a review is worthwhile and would be welcomed by local service providers.

“It’s not a bad thing,” said Hamer-Jackson. “I mean, it’s a corporation. I think an audit or a review should be done on a corporation to see the metrics — to see where the success is.”

An effort by Hamer-Jackson to note the interval since the last rejection of a review did not receive any council support.

Earlier in the meeting during the Public Inquiries portion, Kamloops lawyer David Paul asked council why it wouldn’t “accept the government’s offer” of a third-party review, noting there would be no cost to local taxpayers.

Several councillors later cited Paul’s question as an example of misinformation circulating in the city, noting the province has not made such an offer.

“We’ve already been told they’re not offering to do [a review],” said Councillor Bill Sarai. “We’re just saying we’re not going to keep asking when they’ve said no.”

“If they ever came forward and said, ‘We want to do a review,'” continued Sarai. “I’m sure all of our council would welcome them with open arms but we have not had that opportunity. In fact, we have (heard) the opposite — that they are not willing to do another review.”

by James Peters

Council elects not to push for third-party review of Kamloops-based B.C. Housing facilities

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