UPDATE: 11:50 a.m.

The City of Kelowna released a statement Thursday morning regarding Councillor Ron Cannan91裸聊视频檚 recent column published to an online media, claiming the opinions of Cannan are his personal views and do not represent the views of Kelowna City Council.

91裸聊视频淢embers of council and the public have shared their concerns with me regarding Councillor Cannan91裸聊视频檚 viewpoints and we are disappointed that he has used his elected position as a City Councillor in this way. Many of the issues he has expressed opinions about are outside the jurisdiction of local government,91裸聊视频� said Mayor Tom Dyas.

He added that he will continue to promote inclusivity and safety for all citizens.

Council recently approved a Code of Conduct governing the behaviour and expectations of council, to which Dyas said this matter will be given 91裸聊视频渄ue consideration. 91裸聊视频�

_____

Original:

A Kelowna City Councillor91裸聊视频檚 recent opinion piece has caused a stir among elected officials and political experts across the province after he encouraged constituents to read the Bible.

Ron Cannan has had a 20-year career in politics in Kelowna as both a councillor and Member of Parliament.

The opinion piece titled 91裸聊视频楳y predictions for Kelowna, BC and the world in 202491裸聊视频�, was published to the Now Media Group91裸聊视频檚 website on Jan. 2.

In the piece, Cannan shares his opinions on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Trudeau, the federal, provincial and municipal budgets, sexual orientation and gender identity resources in schools and the 91裸聊视频渢ransgender movement,91裸聊视频� Cannan ended his piece by encouraging people to read the Christian Bible.

The article has been circulated online prompting experts, community members and members of the public to speak out on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter).

Conjuring up the Bible, punching down on trans kids and their parents, virtue signaling about the Gaza conflict, and a personal attack on Justin Trudeau. All in a day for councilor . How does this fit with the Council Code of Conduct?

91裸聊视频� Wilbur Turner 馃嚚馃嚘馃彸锔�91裸聊视频嶐煂堭煆筹笍91裸聊视频嶁毀锔� (@queergranddad)

Secularism in the Okanagan has recently been a hot button topic for politicians after an organization called the BC Humanist Association published a report naming the West Kelowna City Council as one of seven municipalities across the province that opened its 2022 inaugural council meeting with prayer.

READ MORE: Prayer at West Kelowna council violates Supreme Court ruling

In an interview with Capital News regarding Cannan91裸聊视频檚 opinion piece, Teale Phelps Bondaroff PhD, a research coordinator for the B.C. Humanists Association and City Councillor in Saanich explained that while it is considered unconstitutional and a violation of the government91裸聊视频檚 duty to practice religious neutrality to pray during a council meeting, individual representatives are free to express themselves and share their religious beliefs.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not illegal, it91裸聊视频檚 just not inclusive,91裸聊视频� said Phelps Bondaroff.

Phelps Bondaroff said that while Cannan is entitled to share his opinion, the Kelowna politician seems to be using religion, 91裸聊视频渨edge issues,91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渄ivisive politics91裸聊视频� to elicit an emotional response from his constituents.

91裸聊视频淭his reflects on Cannan and his priorities, which seem to be promoting his religion over inclusivity.91裸聊视频�

Okanagan College professor of social issues and former Kelowna politician Norah Bowman, PhD, also spoke out and shared her disappointment after reading what she called, 91裸聊视频渕ean and untruthful statements,91裸聊视频� in Cannan91裸聊视频檚 piece.

Bowman specifically referenced Cannan91裸聊视频檚 opinions on the future of the war in Ukraine as being misleading.

In the article, Cannan stated that the public is no longer, 91裸聊视频渂uying what the [Ukrainian] regime is selling.91裸聊视频�

Bowman said that there is no factual basis to the claim that the public does not support Ukraine in its war against Russia or that the 91裸聊视频渞egime91裸聊视频� in Ukraine is bad.

Capital News reached out to Cannan for an interview. Instead he sent a written reply where he explained that he has had positive feedback from his column and he feels it was well received.

He also clarified his comments on the war in Ukraine, stating his mother is Ukrainian and he doesn91裸聊视频檛 support Putin.

91裸聊视频淛ust think people don91裸聊视频檛 agree that all the Ukrainian government is free of corruption. Hoping that a peace agreement can be reached for the sake of both countries and the world.91裸聊视频�

Bowman went on to say that Cannan91裸聊视频檚 prediction that school boards will continue to face pushback regarding91裸聊视频� what he called91裸聊视频� the 91裸聊视频淪OGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) policy and transgender movement91裸聊视频� is not factual and perpetuates misinformation.

Speaking as a former school board trustee Bowman stated that the SOGI resources in schools are not a 91裸聊视频減olicy,91裸聊视频� and that there is no 91裸聊视频渢ransgender movement.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淗is column is not grounded in reality,91裸聊视频� said Bowman. 91裸聊视频淚t is not appropriate, professional or respectful of a diverse society.91裸聊视频�

She said that based on the prediction piece Cannan is not fulfilling his responsibilities as a 91裸聊视频渟ecular leader in a pluralistic society.91裸聊视频�

Mayor Tom Dyas is currently not in the city, however, the mayoral office is working to prepare a media statement regarding Cannan91裸聊视频檚 piece.

In a media statement, the City of Kelowna said that 91裸聊视频渆lected officials are free to express their thoughts and opinions91裸聊视频� The City of Kelowna is a secular institution that supports a multi-cultural, inclusive approach to governance.91裸聊视频�

The city also stated that all Kelowna City Councillors must abide by a but are free to share their thoughts, opinions and beliefs.

Capital News reached out to several local politicians for their thoughts on Cannan91裸聊视频檚 column, but have not received a response.

91裸聊视频淗e is not being cancelled. He is being called out,91裸聊视频� reiterated Bowman.