THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: disqualify elected reps who ‘repeatedly bully’
(Image: SILGA file photo)
A very interesting resolution is being put forward for debate at this week’s annual conference of the Southern Interior Local Government Association in Kamloops.
No indication of who initiated the resolution or when Kamloops City council approved it, if it did, but one would almost think it was aimed at a particular mayor.
Resolutions are scheduled for debate Wednesday afternoon (May 1, 2024). This one includes a request to the provincial government to “adopt statutory provisions to effectively safeguard municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from the ethical misconduct of local elected officials, including, without limitation, repeated bullying, harassment, and inappropriate treatment, up to and including suspension or disqualification from participation in elected office.”
Here’s the full text of the resolution:
(39) TITLE: Bullying and Harassment by Local Elected Officials
SPONSOR: City of Kamloops
Whereas there is currently no legislation in place that effectively safeguards local government staff or elected officials from bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of other local elected official;
And whereas Worksafe BC does not include local elected officials as “workers” pursuant to the Workers Compensation Act, thus preventing municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from utilizing Worksafe BC policies, procedures, and safeguards against bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of a local elected official;
And whereas local government codes of conduct are ineffective against a local elected official who chooses to blatantly ignore and disregard council or board resolutions, including protective measures put in place to safeguard local government staff and elected officials from that local elected official;
And whereas the absence of statutory or common law authority to practically and effectively prevent a local elected official from continuing to bully, harass, and mistreat municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board can seriously jeopardize the mental health and safety of staff and other members of council or the board.
And whereas due to the risk of continued and unconstrained bullying and harassment of staff at the hands of local elected officials, local governments and their taxpayers face significant legal exposure arising out of the unsafe workplaces in the form of costly investigations, wrongful termination claims based on constructive dismissal law, and increased legal costs:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Government of British Columbia amend the Workers Compensation Act to include local elected officials in the definition of “worker” as defined in section 1 of that Act, thereby affording access to Worksafe BC’s existing policies, procedures, and safeguards against bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of a local elected official;
And be it further resolved that the Government of British Columbia adopt statutory provisions to effectively safeguard municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from the ethical misconduct of local elected officials, including, without limitation, repeated bullying, harassment, and inappropriate treatment, up to and including suspension or disqualification from participation in elected office.
SILGA Recommendation: Endorse
Comments: Elected officials, as well as staff, should be protected by law.
Resolutions Committee Recommendation: No Recommendation
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Be it resolved that a group of bullies can level charges of bullying against another, and use that to bully the single individual.
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Eight coyotes and one ram voting on the dinner menu
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This just adds fuel to the fire. A delegation from Kamloops leading a movement against one person. It seems like an act of bullying in itself.
This is not the will of the people, in my opinion. The chair of the conference should recognize this at face value.
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For Pete’s sake, couldn’t the council wait until the report is in from the provincial government appointee? Perhaps they would have found a way to sort out the mess that is currently happening in Kamloops without resorting to such a resolution.
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I have not read nor heard of any others cities in BC having workplace issues like Kamloops.This is a specific KAMLOOPS issue. They need to resolve it one way or another.
Unfortunately if this resolution is adopted city councils will use it as a weapon. The business of workplace investigations in BC cities will flourish.
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Has it even been established that there was bullying and harassment at all?
When did the trial happen? Where is the conviction? Why isn’t RHJ in cuffs?
All I’ve seen is this so-called “Integrity Report” giving a one-side narrative that hasn’t been corroborated at all. It’s not even legally binding.
So even if this proposal goes through, what does this say about democracy, where anyone who ‘doesn’t like a thing’ and say whatever they want to see the other person expelled?
This Council has gone from stupid and selfish to outright dangerous.
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People who live in a small glass fishbowl should not throw clamshells. As Ken McClelland has stated, be careful what you wish for.
For whom the bell tolls……..
It would be an interesting point of law to have Worksafe BC overturn the results of an election.
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I assume these provisions, if adopted, would apply to an unreasonable, bullying or harrassing Council or Councilors as well? Be careful what you wish for….
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