Kelowna councillors talk to media despite mayor advising to avoid speaking ahead of meetings – Okanagan [Video]

Kelowna city councillors are being urged by the mayor to avoid speaking to the media ahead of meetings.

In a letter sent to council recently, Tom Dyas stated, “As per our code of conduct, the mayor is the spokesperson for the city.”

The letter also says, “If speaking to the media, councillors must state it’s their personal opinion, and should avoid talking with the media before the motion is brought to council.”

The mayor’s letter was sent after Coun. Ron Cannan issued a notice of motion to create a ‘Buy Canadian’ policy last month.

Cannan was scheduled to do an interview about the procurement with Global News but he cancelled last minute saying the mayor directed him to “stand down from engaging with the media.”

Ironically, the mayor himself was unavailable for an interview about his directive to councillors.

Instead he issued a statement, saying, “Councillors are elected in their own right and are free to share their own …