By Dominic Abassi

‘We will not be hiring her,’ Sechelt First Nation says of Nanaimo city manager

Feb 9, 2018 | 1:53 PM

NANAIMO — The shíshálh Nation in Sechelt had a change of heart and will not be hiring Nanaimo’s chief administrative officer after all.

When asked about Tracy Samra’s employment status with the First Nation, shíshálh coun. Keith Julius told NanaimoNewsNOW “We will not be hiring her.”

Julius did not offer any explanation for the decision.

In a statement, shíshálh chief Warren Paull said “Our council and Tracy Samra agree that now is not the time for her to take on the responsibilities of the CAO…We wish her well in future endeavors.”

Friday’s revelation comes nine days after the Nation issued a news release saying it had appointed Samra as their CAO and she would begin working for them in February. On the same day the release was published, Samra was arrested for allegedly uttering death threats against the mayor, a local journalist and several current and former staff members at City Hall.

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Despite the announcement from shíshálh, Samra did not issue a resignation letter to the City or Council and remains on paid medical leave following the alleged incident on Jan. 31.

The City launched their own independent investigation into what they described as an “incident” at City Hall. There’s no timeline for when that investigation will be complete.

Meanwhile, the province appointed a special prosecutor to guide RCMP in their investigation.

No charges have been laid and Samra was released from jail with several conditions on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi

— Note to readers. This is an updated story. Adds comment from chief Warren Paull.