Kamloops councillor apologizes for secretly recording heated argument with mayor, then lying about it

Kamloops Coun. Bill Sarai has apologized aft admitting helium secretly recorded his statement with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson successful January 2023, past sent a snippet of the speech to the mayor, suggesting idiosyncratic other had recorded it.

The expletive-filled speech is one of the catalysts for complaints filed against the politician to the city's quality resources department, which yet led to extracurricular investigations and sanctions against the mayor.

The afloat transcript of the signaling was revealed done a freedom-of-information petition filed by online quality outlet INFOnews, which archetypal reported connected the contents of the recording, a astir seven-minute statement betwixt the politician and Sarai.

It's besides prompted calls for Sarai's resignation from respective metropolis taxpayers.

During a assembly gathering connected Dec. 3, Sarai called his signaling "unprofessional and unacceptable" and apologized to the mayor, different councillors and the community.

"I broke our codification of conduct, and I volition afloat enactment successful immoderate consequences deemed appropriate."

Sarai said helium had realized his intelligence wellness had contributed to his actions and that helium would beryllium focusing connected improving that, arsenic well.

"Thank you," Hamer-Jackson said successful effect to the apology, describing the consequences of the signaling arsenic a "real whirlwind" that had accrued scrutiny connected his office.

The politician told CBC News he's convinced the heated speech recorded by Sarai past twelvemonth prompted an probe by an extracurricular lawyer detailing 4 complaints filed against the politician by metropolis unit — including 1 from main administrative serviceman David Trawin, who is present connected idiosyncratic leave, and his replacement Byron McCorkell.

The document, known arsenic the Integrity Report, has not yet been made public, but portions were leaked to section media past year.

In May of this year, a study commissioned by the state into Kamloops metropolis hallway was publically released.

Written by erstwhile Abbotsford politician Henry Braun, the study was highly captious of the mayor's conduct with unit and different councillors.

In the clip since, Hamer-Jackson has had his wage docked, been removed from respective committees and from his presumption arsenic spokesperson for the metropolis and has been moved into a basement bureau abstracted from metropolis staff, which helium has refused to use, alternatively relocating to the car dealership helium owns adjacent metropolis hall.

During Tuesday's meeting, helium invited the remainder of the assembly to reverse these actions.

But Coun. Kelly Hall said neither of the reports into the mayor's conduct nor immoderate of the sanctions placed connected the politician were the effect of Sarai's recording.

The signaling besides prompted the politician to kick to RCMP that his bureau whitethorn person been bugged aft Sarai sent him a information of the conversation, claiming idiosyncratic other had sent it to him.

A radical calling themselves Kamloops Citizens United says the signaling and consequent lies from Sarai warranted a resignation.

"He needs to relationship for what he's done. An apology doesn't adjacent spell halfway," said spokesperson Kathrine Wunderlich.

"He's humiliated the metropolis of Kamloops ... there's nary coming backmost from this."

But speaking to reporters aft the meeting, Sarai said helium had nary volition of stepping down.

"I made a mistake, and I'm antheral capable to ain up to it, determination on, and get the assistance I need."