The mayor of Kamloops is weighing in on the controversy surrounding the Union of BC Municipalities and China.

Ken Christian says for UBCM to keep allowing China to hold its glitzy reception at the annual local government convention probably won’t be a big deal for most.

That said Christian adds if the UBCM does continue to allow China to hold the reception he will not be attending.

“I would steer clear of it. I have been in the past. It is quite lavish. They do work the room. There is no question that the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver is very very active in terms of networking and lobbying government at all levels. I think in light of the Huawei situation and now the situation with meat products in Canada and the impact that is going to have on Canadian ranchers I don’t think I could be there.”

In light of China’s actions to punish Canada for the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou UBCM executives will be discussing whether or not to end the event.

Christian says he trusts them to make the right decision.

“UBCM executives will put their best minds to that and they will come up with some kind of solution. I don’t think for the run of the mill delegate it is going to make an awful lot of difference but I do think it could be a bit of a tempest in terms of protests related to that. Whether the UBCM wants to avoid that potentially is something they want to consider.”

Critics are demanding UBCM refuse sponsorship money from China and end its annual reception at the local government convention.