Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson

The Mayor of Kamloops says the community needs to be moving in a different direction.

Reid Hamer-Jackson says this is part of the reason why he decided to suspend acting CAO Byron McCorkell from his duties, saying he was elected on a platform to make changes.

“We had an election in October, 2022, and the people, the citizens, voted for change,” said Hamer-Jackson.  “I was one, and there are others that were too. Some don’t seem to be as concerned as what I am. I think we’ve got to move forward by making some moves, and changing things up.”

He points to social issues on the streets that he contends are not getting better since he took office.

“I don’t see any change on the streets. In fact, I see it getting worse. I don’t see it getting better,” said Hamer-Jackson.

Hamer-Jackson says he intends to put out his full rationale for his move to suspend McCorkell at the first scheduled meeting in April.

“April the 9th is when I plan on presenting things that we’ve been dealing with.”

However, Hamer-Jackson did confirm he will not be attending Thursday’s special council meeting called to address the issue, saying he has previous obligations.

But he suggests the meeting on Thursday should not be able to go ahead.

“I don’t know how they’re going to have the meeting without me. Because if they’re having a special meeting, or any meeting… very recently we couldn’t have a meeting [because] four councillors had to walk out of the room, and councillor Hall was out of town, and we couldn’t have the meeting because we didn’t have quorum because there’s four immediate family members that work for the deputy CAO [Byron McCorkell],” argued Hamer-Jackson.

At the same time, Hamer-Jackson says he hopes the rest of council will support his decision to suspend McCorkell, despite a statement to the contrary from the other members of council.

Meanwhile, Hamer-Jackson says he’s unsure of why the rest of council would contend that he breached privacy regulations during his move to suspend McCorkell.

“The Mayor appears to have disclosed personal information of acting CAO McCorkell in breach of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act,” said council in a news release put out after news of McCorkell’s suspension was first made public by Radio NL.  ” This privacy breach has been reported to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.”

“It’s just like the other day, not that long ago, when I was going to do a slide show [at a Kamloops Chamber of Commerce event earlier in March]…I’m breaching privacy? Are you kidding me? You’re allowed to take pictures in public in Canada. That’s in Canadian law, not a Kamloops, BC law.”

Asked if the suspension of McCorkell had anything to do with city staff quashing his planned photo slide show at the Chamber event, Hamer-Jackson conceded it could be. “Everything’s related,” he said in response to the question.

The Mayor continued: “If I get the will of council, I wish Mr. McCorkell success in the future. He’s done a lot of great things in the city. I really respect the things he’s done, like the Tournament Capital Ranch and that kind of thing.”

Asked if that statement suggested he’s trying to dismiss McCorkell outright, the Mayor was unequivocal.

“Yes.” said Hamer-Jackson.