CITY HALL – Hamer-Jackson hit with new sanctions over latest Code report
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
Almost a year after it was filed, a code of conduct complaint has resulted in new sanctions against Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson for allegations of bullying and harassing City staff.
It’s the fifth time the mayor has been found to have breached the City’s code of conduct policies, and may result in further cuts to his paycheque.
In a post on its website, the City says the complaint was filed by Coun. Dale Bass in June of 2025, claiming Hamer-Jackson had improperly disclosed third party personal information in email correspondence to councillors, and that he had “harassed, intimidated, and obstructed” City staff.
“The investigator found that Mayor Hamer-Jackson breached the Code of Conduct by sending a series of emails and text messages in April and May 2025 to City staff and Council that contained personal information contrary to privacy principles, and that were sent to bully, intimidate, and harass staff members in an improper exercise of his official duties.”
The investigator, Vancouver lawyer Reece Harding, said Hamer-Jackson declined to take part in the review despite being offered several opportunities. At various times, Harding said, he asked the mayor to participate but “I was unable to obtain a substantive response to any of these communications….”
Hamer-Jackson has accused Harding of bias in previous investigations.
Harding said in his report that after numerous requests for a response, Hamer-Jackson replied via email, “Please just do your report and send to your same jury (councillors). Thanks Mayor Hamer-Jackson.”
Harding said the mayor’s failure to participate led to significant delays in the investigation and increased its costs, which came to $52,360.63.
Following receipt of Harding’s report, council voted to approve a letter of reprimand, issue a public censure, tell Hamer-Jackson to sign letters of apology to each of three City staff members, and take training regarding personal information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
If he doesn’t write the apology letters, his remuneration will be reduced by five per cent for each letter “until such time as he has complied….”
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Why is there such a plague of bullying and harassment in this town at the highest levels of some of our most hallowed and powerful institutions — regional district, school board, TRU, City Hall? Is there really no other way to manage people except through threats and lateral violence?
These taxpayer-funded institutions must do better at screening and training their leaders, as there are real human and economic costs to this behaviour. It might be a game to our Mayor, but the reality cuts much deeper, and the erosion of confidence in our city’s most important institutions can do lasting harm.
It’s like there are no adults in the room anymore.
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Reading the code of conduct bylaw on the City’s website and having interacted with council and its members for years and having watched public projects and local politics unfolding over the same period, it is easy to conclude all of those present and past councillors have not conducted themselves according to said bylaws in multiple occasions.
Furthermore, while the City does employ some very good people this same entity also has many “duds” working various jobs in the pretext of public service which more accurately should be renamed “public disservice”. These “duds” should definitely find work elsewhere.
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unbelievably there are still people who support him and think that everything is the fault of the Councillors
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