Exploring Kamloops and Beyond
Insights from the Kamloops Critic
Dive into a world of perspectives where local and global issues are dissected through a critical lens. Discover what makes Kamloops tick and how it connects to broader narratives.
Latest Discussions and Insights
Kamloops City Council: Should Voters Replace Every Incumbent in 2026?
by Kamloops Critic | April 25, 2026 | Election 2026, Kamloops Politics | 1 Comment
Should Kamloops voters replace every incumbent councillor in 2026? This article explains why frustration alone won’t change Council—and what will.
Kamloops Extends Pathways Shelter Permit
by Kamloops Critic | April 23, 2026 | Housing & Homelessness, Kamloops City Council, Public Safety | 0 Comments
After a packed April 21 meeting, Council approved a 20-month extension while questions about safety, planning, and responsibility remain unresolved A Temporary Shelter, and a Decision That Doesn’t Resolve It When Kamloops Council moved its April 21 meeting to the…
Kamloops AAP Submission Service Makes It Easier to Respond Before the Deadline
by Kamloops Critic | April 22, 2026 | AAP, City of Kamloops | 4 Comments
A new Kamloops AAP Submission Service helps residents respond before the deadline without printing or scanning forms.
Kamloops Motion to Delay Major Projects Forces Council to Take a Public Position
by Kamloops Critic | March 19, 2026 | Governance & Accountability, Kamloops City Council | 10 Comments
The Kamloops Mayor’s motion to delay projects now before Council looks, at first glance, like a financial decision. It proposes pausing the Kamloops Centre for the Arts and the arena multiplex, citing economic uncertainty, long-term debt, and the upcoming 2026…
When the Public Speaks, and Council Moves On
by Kamloops Critic | March 17, 2026 | Kamloops City Council, Municipal Governance | 1 Comment
A March 10 Kamloops Public Hearing on changes to the home-based business bylaw shows how the process works in practice — from public input to Council vote, with little in between.
Worthy of Response?
by Kamloops Critic | March 13, 2026 | City Council, Civic Accountability, Municipal Governance | 2 Comments
Residents are encouraged to email citycouncil@kamloops.ca
with concerns about Kamloops City Council decisions. An internal email thread suggests some messages may not meet a councillor’s “threshold of being worthy of response.”
Councillor Neustaeter’s Curious Hypothetical Example
by Kamloops Critic | February 22, 2026 | Kamloops City Council, Municipal Governance, Transparency & Accountability | 0 Comments
The December 13 Hypothetical That Wasn’t So Hypothetical During the December 13, 2022 regular Council meeting’s Public Inquiries section, there were a couple inquiries about closed meetings. At one point, an unidentified voice — not clearly captured on microphone —…
Kamloops Mayor Defamation Case: “Observed” vs “Spying”
by Kamloops Critic | February 20, 2026 | Kamloops Politics, Legal Matters | 3 Comments
A second defamation lawsuit between Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and Councillor Katie Neustaeter turns on a key question: when does “observing” become “spying”? Court transcripts show Neustaeter acknowledged that “spying” was her interpretation of the Mayor’s …
The Mayor Who Wouldn’t Stay Down
by Kamloops Critic | February 7, 2026 | Kamloops Politics, Reid Hamer-Jackson | 10 Comments
A personal reflection on Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, voter intent, and why change in Kamloops was always going to be uncomfortable — and why that matters.
Council Won’t Say Who Owns Comet Shares
by Kamloops Critic | February 6, 2026 | City Council, Ethics & Transparency, Local Government Accountability | 3 Comments
After three emails and nearly three months, only the Mayor responded. When I published Why the O’Reilly Case Matters in Kamloops , I suggested the case was about more than one councillor or one complaint. It was about whether City Council understands what ethical…