While a delegation from the ASK Wellness Society to the very first meeting of the new Kamloops City Council seems to have gone off without a hitch – NL News has documents that show conflict behind the scenes.

A letter sent from lawyers for ASK Wellness to the mayor’s office, got a fiery response from the mayor’s attorney. Both letters were released to NL News by Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and his personal lawyer, David McMillan, after reports of strife between ASK Wellness and the mayor.

Dated Nov. 3, the law firm representing ASK Wellness says “neither ASK nor the chief executive officer is suggesting at this time that they would commence a court action in relation to [Mayor Hamer-Jackson’s] defamatory comments, but they do want to see an end to these comments, including reference to the chief executive officer by name.”

The letter in reference to well-publicized criticisms of ASK by the mayor before, during and after the election campaign. ASK goes on to offer to work with the mayor saying “our client is interested in working cooperatively.”

McMillan responded a couple of days later, “my client does not wish to debate any of the philosophical platitudes expressed in your letter” before going on to say “the purpose of your letter,  to intimidate Mr. Hamer-Jackson, appears to be quite explicit if he continues to speak out on issues of public concern.”

The letter went on to demand a retraction and an apology saying it would be “more conducive” to a cooperative relationship.

Speaking on NL Newsday, ASK Executive Director Bob Hughes says they were taken aback by the response.

“Out intention was to say – we want to work together and how we do that is about building a relationship, and it’s about talking about what the problems are and how we mutually solve them,” Hughes said.

“Obviously the response we got back was a very different tone that I don’t think one could see that in any way as being an invitation to work together.”

Hughes went on to say the intent of their letter wasn’t to score a political hit.

“Our letter was to simply say please, can we work together? Can you be careful with your language and how you’re using it in your role as the mayor of Kamloops? Obviously we got something back that suggested a different approach to working in community than we had hoped for,” he said.

Earlier this week, Castanet reported on an email from a senior BC Housing staffer to the city noting a “concerning pattern” of unannounced visits by the mayor to it’s shelters – described in the email as “not appropriate behavior.”

Also speaking on NL Newsday, City Councillor Katie Neustaeter says the focus of this current council is one of progress, noting the legal quarrel is an “unfortunate distraction”.

“And understanding again this is just one aspect of a healthy community, that we have a whole picture to keep our eyes on,” Neustaeter said.

“In 2022 with everything we’re faced with, there is no time for drama and there is no time for ego, there is only time for solving things and grabbing the opportunity in front of us.”

You’ll be able to read the letter from ASK Wellness lawyers and mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson here.