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 governance looks like in practice.
Fortunately, Council provided a helpful real-world example for us to look at.
A Simple Question
On May 27, 2025, I emailed City Council with a pretty simple request:
Dear Mayor and Council,
It has come to my attention that Comet Industries Ltd.’s share price has increased today (CMU on the TSX Venture Exchange).
Noting that Councillor Mike O’Reilly is listed as President and CEO, I’d like to know which councillors hold shares in this company, and the number of shares held.
If you could forward that information, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks,
That’s it. I wasn’t making any accusations or assumptions. Just a simple question: who owns shares, and how many.
Gentle Nudge #1 – June 3, 2025
After a week of silence, I sent a polite follow-up:
Good morning Mayor and Council,
I’m following up on my email from last Tuesday.
If you could provide a list of council members and number of shares held prior to my email, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks,
Richard
Still nothing.
Gentle Nudge #2 – August 19, 2025
Nearly two months later:
Good afternoon,
I am following up on my email below, to which I have not yet received a response. I believe it was Councillors Karpuk (May) and O’Reilly (June) wearing the deputy mayor hat at the time.
Could you respond now please and thanks.
Acknowledged — Not Answered
Two days later, on August 21, 2025, Councillor Bill Sarai replied:
Hello Richard,
As deputy mayor for the month of August, I can confirm that all of council has received your numerous emails this past week.
They will be addressed individually as some of the information in your request are confidential, and others are basically your personal opinions of council.As this is not an emergency issue, as DM. I have instructed staff to reply when time permits them in their busy schedule.
Notably missing from Sarai’s reply is an answer to the actual question: Which councillors own shares in Comet Industries, and how many?
Instead, the existence of the emails is acknowledged, the question is partially reframed as opinion, and responsibility is deferred to staff at some unspecified future time. To date, no staff response has been received.
The Exception
At some point during this saga, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson replied and advised that he does not own shares in Comet Industries.
This is what transparency looks like: A simple sentence, four seconds. problem solved. The remaining councillors have chosen not to reply.
What This Is — And Isn’t
This isn’t a demand for tax returns, and it’s not a complicated ethical puzzle. It’s a simple disclosure about a company whose president and CEO also happens to sit at the council table.
In any municipality that takes ethics seriously, this should be routine. In Kamloops, it appears to be something to avoid.
Why Anyone Should Care
Comet Industries has business interests connected to land development and resource projects in and around Kamloops. Council routinely votes on matters affecting land use, zoning, infrastructure planning, and development approvals.
If councillors hold financial stakes in a company that could benefit from those decisions, residents have a right to know. Not eventually, after a complaint, or after a lawsuit. Now.
Selective Transparency
Council regularly describes itself as transparent. This appears to mean: “We are transparent about the things we like talking about.”
When transparency becomes optional, it stops being transparency. It becomes branding, or, as O’Reilly has been known to say: “Communication strategy”.
The Pattern Is the Point
Citizens ask reasonable questions. Council ignores them. The City and Council later express surprise when trust declines. Rinse. Repeat.
The O’Reilly case matters because it exposed how weak Kamloops’ ethical culture has become. The Comet share question shows the weakness is not theoretical. It’s operational.
A Simple Solution
Councillors could solve this today by replying with something like: “I do not own shares in Comet Industries.” Or: “I own X shares in Comet Industries.” That’s it.
Until then, residents are left with an awkward but unavoidable question: If there’s nothing to hide, why is everyone hiding?
Not Impressed With Council?
If you don’t appreciate Council ignoring simple questions, let them know what you think.
Email: citycouncil@kamloops.ca
Election 2026
The next election is October 17, 2026. If you were considering voting for Councillor Mike O’Reilly or Bill Sarai, I urge you to reconsider.
I think it’s high time Council which was elected by the people and work on behalf of the people answer questions of conflict of interests immediately or be dismissed from their positions and a proper investigation launched.
It wouldnt suprise me as to the lies!
Transparency is key to anhonesr council and this group is about as a piece of coal
Recusing ones self from conflict of intrest matters is a big deal! when the election cones around the publicshould be mindful of all these issues before voting!