The following open letter has been sent to Mayor Krog and Nanaimo City Council and is published here in the interest of transparency and public accountability.
Subject: Request for Full Written Policy, Economic Impact Review, and Public Positions re Port Theatre Cancellation of Ben Bankas Show
Mayor Krog and Members of Council,
This letter is being sent to Mayor and Council and published publicly in the interest of transparency and accountability.
I am writing to ask for three things.
First, I am asking Council to insist that the Port Theatre provide a full written explanation of the exact policy, rule, or decision-making standard applied in cancelling the Ben Bankas show in Nanaimo.
Second, I am asking that the economic impact of that cancellation on the theatre and the wider local economy be reasonably examined.
Third, I am asking each member of Council to state publicly whether they supported or opposed this outcome.
This is not some minor issue. I understand that 804 tickets had already been sold for the Nanaimo performance before it was cancelled. That means this decision affected hundreds of paying adults who had already chosen to attend. It also means the cancellation likely affected more than ticket revenue alone.
If the Port Theatre relied on a clear written policy to justify cancelling this show, then the public should now be allowed to see that policy in full.
If no such clear written policy existed, then the public has an even more serious concern. It would suggest that a sold event was cancelled without a transparent standard the public can read, understand, and measure for consistency.
That is not acceptable in a publicly supported venue.
For that reason, I ask Council to require the Port Theatre to answer, in writing and in public, the following questions:
What exact written policy, rule, or standard was applied to cancel the Ben Bankas show?
Who made the decision, and under what authority?
Was the decision based on a pre-existing written standard, or was it made after complaints and public pressure?
If the Theatre believed the performance crossed a legal or policy line, what specific line was identified?
Would the same standard be applied equally to any other performer, speaker, or event, regardless of viewpoint?
Will that written policy now be released publicly so Nanaimo residents know what rules are being applied in a publicly supported venue?
There is also an economic accountability issue here that should not be ignored.
The loss was not limited to the tickets alone. Lost theatre revenue matters. Lost concession and in-house spending matter. Refund administration costs matter. And the impact does not stop at the theatre doors.
How many restaurant meals were lost?
How many drinks were not served?
How many parking fees disappeared?
How many hotel or motel bookings were affected?
In one Rebel News interview following the cancellation, a couple reportedly said they had booked the Nanaimo show about a month in advance and then travelled to New Westminster to see the performance there instead. If that is so, then the money attached to that visit did not disappear. It simply went somewhere else.
That matters to Nanaimo.
So I am also asking Council to determine, or require from the proper parties, a reasonable estimate of the economic impact of this cancellation, including:
- lost ticket revenue to the Port Theatre
- lost concession and in-house revenue
- refund-related administrative costs
- likely lost spending at nearby restaurants, pubs, and other businesses
- possible loss of hotel or motel stays
- broader reputational harm to Nanaimo as a place willing to host lawful public performances
There is one more issue here, and this one goes directly to political accountability.
This is an election year.
Voters have every right to know where their elected officials stand on matters of free expression, public accountability, and the conduct of publicly supported institutions.
So I am asking for a public show of hands.
Which members of Council supported the cancellation of this show?
Which members opposed it?
Which members believe a publicly supported venue should be able to cancel a lawful sold event without first releasing the exact written policy it relied upon?
Which members believe adults in Nanaimo are capable of deciding for themselves what performances they wish to attend?
If councillors support this cancellation, they should say so openly.
If they oppose it, they should say so openly.
If they believe public venues in Nanaimo should be governed by clear written rules rather than noise, pressure, and political discomfort, they should say so openly too.
Silence is not good enough.
Not in a public controversy.
Not in a taxpayer-supported setting.
And not in an election year.
This issue is bigger than one comedian.
It is about whether public life in Nanaimo is governed by principle or by pressure.
It is about whether adults are treated like adults.
It is about whether a publicly supported venue can cancel a sold event and then hide behind vague language instead of pointing to a clear written rule.
So I am asking, plainly:
If there was a policy, show it.
If there was an economic cost, measure it.
And if Council supported this outcome, let the public see a show of hands.
Nanaimo voters deserve a clear answer.
Sincerely,
Jim Taylor
Voice of Nanaimo/Independent Public Advocate
email:VoiceofNanaimo@mail.com
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