Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Group calls for vote on Surrey, B.C., police force

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Nov, 2021 05:22 PM
  • Group calls for vote on Surrey, B.C., police force

SURREY, B.C. - A group opposing the planned transition from the RCMP to a municipal police force in Surrey, B.C., says it has collected close to 43,000 signatures from residents calling for a referendum on policing in the city.

Darlene Bennett launched the campaign with the group Surrey Police Vote over concerns about rising costs associated with starting a new municipal police force, which was a key pledge in Mayor Doug McCallum's election campaign in 2018.

The city council voted in favour of the transition in 2018, the public safety minister approved the creation of the Surrey Police Board last year, and Surrey's budget for 2021 showed the transition was $18.5 million more than the original $45-million cost estimate.

Amber Stowe, media relations lead with McCallum's office, says the mayor would not comment on the petition before Elections BC delivers the final result.

A statement from the Surrey Police Union says the 42,942 signatures collected by the Surrey Police Vote initiative falls far below the legislative requirement of 10 per cent of voters from all 87 electoral districts in B.C. in order to trigger a referendum.

Bennett said upon launching the petition that the initiative would not campaign across the province, rather it would focus on the nine electoral districts in Surrey in hopes of demonstrating the need for a regional referendum to the provincial government.

B.C.'s Referendum Act gives provincial cabinet the power to order a referendum in a particular region, campaign strategist Bill Tieleman said in a statement on Monday.

The petition's signatures represent about 13.5 per cent of about 318,000 registered voters in Surrey's nine districts, according to a 2017 tally from Elections BC.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Investigations underway into three separate attacks on women: Surrey RCMP

Investigations underway into three separate attacks on women: Surrey RCMP
Between September 27, and October 10, 2021 there have been three separate incidents. In each circumstance, a woman was walking alone and grabbed from behind by an unknown man. Thankfully, all three women were able to escape without physical injuries; however, incidents like these can have lasting emotional impacts.

Investigations underway into three separate attacks on women: Surrey RCMP

Road closure due to a serious motor vehicle incident

Road closure due to a serious motor vehicle incident
On October 14, 2021 at 05:39 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to the report of a motor vehicle collision that involved a pedestrian at the intersection of 108 Avenue and 140 Street. The pedestrian sustained significant injuries and has been transported to hospital. 

Road closure due to a serious motor vehicle incident

Abbotsford Police need public's assistance in locating Chamkaur Singh Maan wanted for sexual assault

Abbotsford Police need public's assistance in locating Chamkaur Singh Maan wanted for sexual assault
He is South Asian, 41 years old, is 5ft 5 inches tall and weighs 281 Lbs. He has short dark hair and brown eyes.  Mann is known to the frequent the Clearbrook area. 

Abbotsford Police need public's assistance in locating Chamkaur Singh Maan wanted for sexual assault

Third hospital in B.C. declares COVID outbreak

Third hospital in B.C. declares COVID outbreak
There have been four more deaths in the province, including three in the Northern Health area, where the health minister has said the vaccination rate is lower than the rest of the province.

Third hospital in B.C. declares COVID outbreak

Incoming army commander under investigation

Incoming army commander under investigation
Cadieu was recently promoted and a ceremony to install him as head of the army was slated for Sept. 7. A 29-year veteran of the military, Cadieu previously served in Bosnia and Afghanistan before most recently providing analysis and advice to the chief of the defence staff.

Incoming army commander under investigation

O'Toole grapples with immunization for MPs

O'Toole grapples with immunization for MPs
Mandatory immunization has been called for by the Liberals and Bloc Québécois, and supported by the NDP, as parties prepare for Parliament to resume following last month's federal election.

O'Toole grapples with immunization for MPs