By James Peters

Former mayoral candidate accuses Christian of short temper

Dec 19, 2017 | 3:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — There were a few heated moments at Kamloops city hall this afternoon.

At the public podium, former mayoral candidate Mike McKenzie angrily accused Mayor Ken Christian of being hot-headed during a meeting between the two in Christian’s office yesterday.

McKenzie says he came to see Christian Monday to discuss the Kinder Morgan TransMountain pipeline expansion project.

“I came to sit with the mayor yesterday to ask those questions. How you acted got a negative response from me because you don’t have the right to treat me that way,” said McKenzie. “I would like to know why you turned red, physically moved closer to me and flipped out on me for calling you ‘someone like a colonizer.’

“Why are you so hot-headed? Why did you not have a conversation with me?”

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Christian told McKenzie the reason he asked him to leave city hall was because of McKenzie’s insulting comments toward local First Nations leadership.

McKenzie didn’t accept that answer.

“The problem that we face, Ken, is that we need to have these public conversations because you can’t handle yourself behind closed doors. I’m here in front of your staff and in front of your council to tell you that what you did was wrong. It takes courage to do this; people don’t do this every day. And that was wrong,” said McKenzie.

At that point, Christian asked McKenzie to leave city hall once again.

After the meeting, Christian repeated to CFJC Today that McKenzie was invited to leave city hall Monday because of comments toward local band leadership.

“Mr. McKenzie came into my office yesterday and made some comments that were disparaging about the leadership of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc as well as the Skeetchestn Indian Band. I didn’t find that appropriate. I asked him to leave my office and asked him to leave city hall as well.”

Christian did not bite on questions about his temper.

“People will judge me based on my record, but people have to realize that you can’t come into the mayor’s office or into city hall and take actions that are inappropriate. When you do, you’re going to be asked to leave.”