Kamloops council passed a motion to suspend public input opportunities for the remainder of 2025.

The motion was put forward by councillor Margot Middleton. “This will give us time to go to committee for review. Committee will have the time to review it, and will also give staff the time to rewrite, review or amend the bylaw. So i would like to bring this motion to suspend public input for the balance of this calendar year.”

The idea of pressing pause on the process was first brought forward by Councillor Bill Sarai in the fall of 2024 and council ultimately made the decision this past January to halt the process for a two month period so that city staff could examine a a way to streamline the process. Council made some tweaks to the process and put it back on the agenda and May 27th, was the first time it was once again an option for Kamloopsians. However, Middleton felt the process was already being taken advantage of.

“We have already seen a misstep or an issue already. So our first opportunity out has already been abused and I do not think that we should subject, our staff, our council, our community members to the potential for further abuse.”

The governance Committee will review the procedure. Its next meeting is not scheduled until the fall, though there was talk of potentially added a special meeting prior to the September session to discuss the issue.

After it goes through the committee, city staff will once again look at drafting a new public input bylaw for council’s consideration.

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and Councillor Dale Bass were the two votes opposed to halting the public input process.