Kelowna, B.C. city councillor accuses mayor of bullying

Kelowna residents expressed mixed feelings on whether the mayor should or shouldn't tell councillors to avoid speaking to media ahead of council debates on issues.

Kelowna, B.C., city councillor Ron Cannan is accusing Mayor Tom Dyas of bullying.

The public accusation was made at Monday’s council meeting.

“To me it felt like you’re bullying me, telling me that I don’t understand the policy,” Cannan said.

The policy Cannan is referring to relates to procurement and prioritizing buying Canadian products and services.

Cannan brought forth a notice of motion last month to review the policy and prioritize buying local.

The councillor was scheduled to do an interview with Global News on the topic but cancelled at the last minute, after Dyas told him to “stand down on engaging with the media.”

“You have to accept the fact that…there’s nine of us around the table and sometimes we have a difference in agreement or position,” Cannan said at Monday’s meeting. “And you did shut me down.”

Neither Cannan nor Dyas made themselves available for post-council meeting interviews on Tuesday, but at Monday’s meeting, Dyas remained firm on his position he is not silencing councillors.