Kelowna city councillor Ron Cannan.

(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

Kelowna city councillor Ron Cannan regularly writes opinion columns that are published online but his latest musings have sparked concern from his fellow councillors and the mayor.

A column Cannan wrote for Kelowna Now called My prediction for Kelowna, BC and world in 2024 have created a stir at city hall and Mayor Tom Dyas felt inclined to issue a statement about it today, Jan. 4.

“The opinions expressed by councillor Ron Cannan on Jan. 2 in the local media are his personal views and do not represent the views of Kelowna city council,” the written statement said. “It is incumbent upon individual councillors to explicitly state their views are personal and not those of council as a whole.

READ MORE: JONESIE: That time Ron Cannan actually said something

“Members of council and the public have shared their concerns with me regarding councillor Cannan’s viewpoints and we are disappointed that he has used his elected position as a City councillor in this way.”

Following the release of Dyas' statement, Cannan responded with his own counter response.

"There is a disclaimer at the top of the article saying the opinions are those of the writer," Cannan said in an email.

The article is actually headed with a statement by KelownaNow that it is the opinion of the writer, not KelownaNow.

Cannan, who topped the polls when he was elected to council in October 2022, wrote about the war in Gaza, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the provincial NDP’s housing policies, homelessness and anti-SOGI protests, amongst other topics.

The column is preceded by a note that he was elected to council in 2022, was Kelowna-Lake Country MP from 2006 to 2015, and also served on council from 1996 to 2005.

“The Mayor of Kelowna is the official spokesperson for the City of Kelowna and I will continue to promote inclusivity and safety for all citizens while focusing on matters within the purview of local government,” Dyas writes.

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“Council recently approved a Code of Conduct governing the behaviour and expectations of council and this matter will be given due consideration.”

Dyas doesn't say in his written statement if by "due consideration" he means there will be an investigation or if Cannan will face any sanctions.

"This statement is our official response and we will have no further comment," the mayor says.

The city’s code of conduct came into effect in September and was initiated by Dyas.

It mostly refers to council members’ conduct as it relates to their interaction with staff, fellow councillors and the public.

READ MORE: Cannan packs up old life, ponders future after election defeat

“The mayor is the designated spokesperson for the City on council matters,” the code states. “Council members will represent the official policies or positions of council to the best of their ability when designated as a delegate of council. When presenting their individual opinions and positions, council members will explicitly state that it is their own personal view and that they do not represent council or the City in those views.”

Cannan's email says that he "stated in the opening paragraph that these are my personal predictions."

In the second paragraph of his column, he does write that ". . . I welcome you to come along for a little journey as I offer up a few personal glimpses and predictions . . . ."

So, the question of whether he violated the city's code of conduct may come down to whether this is considered a clear enough indication that Cannan was stating his own personal opinions.

While that  seems to be at the core of the tiff between the two men, the code of conduct also says that council members will not “engage with others, including residents, staff, committee members and other council members, in a manner that is abusive, bullying, intimidating or derogatory.”

The code of conduct can be seen here.

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