EDITORIAL – Mayor’s conflict of interest declaration takes caution to a new level

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

MAYOR REID HAMER-JACKSON excused himself from the entire City council meeting yesterday without saying why. He simply said there were agenda items that presented “potential” conflicts of interest, and left the meeting.

The agenda itself provides few clues. There was a road closure, a rezoning, some variance permit applications, a tree protection bylaw amendment — all standard stuff for council meetings. The only thing close to being at all controversial was an update from staff on several old motions about safety and social housing.

Those are issues close to the mayor’s heart and his thoughts on them don’t rub everyone the right way but the only action required of council was to receive the report for information.

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Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops, former TNRD director and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.