Reid Hamer-Jackson (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

URBAN MAYORS' CAUCUS

‘Let’s do something different’; Hamer-Jackson touts priorities of Urban Mayors’ Caucus

Jan 20, 2025 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Urban Mayors’ Caucus is comprised of the 16 largest municipalities in British Columbia, representing more than half the province’s population. While he has been removed from other outside roles such as the TNRD Board of Directors, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is the City of Kamloops’ representative.

The 16 mayors wrote a letter to Premier David Eby, highlighting their priorities for the provincial government — in particular, focused on mental health and substance use, community safety, affordable housing and infrastructure. All are key topic of conversation locally in Kamloops.

“We are having record overdoses every year and we keep saying, ‘We are saving lives, saving lives.’ Well, why are we having record overdoses? I really think that is something we need to address. I think that we need more support, our social agencies need more support. I mean, we have got a lot of harm reduction units and lots of people on drugs, and we have enough safe injection sites — let’s start focusing on recovery,” said Hamer-Jackson.

The mayors put forward 13 recommendations for the premier to include in mandate letters for his executive council. They speak directly to what communities like Kamloops have often referred to as downloading of provincial responsibilities to municipalities.

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Removing bathroom doors at Barriere Secondary increases safety concerns

Apr 02, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 2, 2026

Apr 02, 2026

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Kamloops deserves the full story

Apr 01, 2026

credit – Urban Mayors’ Caucus

There is, however, no assurance the government will take the steps outlined by the caucus.

“We have been doing the same thing over and over again. Let’s do something different,” Hamer-Jackson told CFJC News. “I think the Urban Mayors’ Caucus has done a great job of outlining a lot of things that we need, including talking about infrastructure. When you are telling us we have to build more than 4,200 units in five years — that is probably three-and-a-half now — what about the infrastructure? What about the schools? What about everything? Let’s take a good look at stuff, and hopefully they are going to listen and I believe that they will.”