Close X
Monday, November 25, 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

O'Toole triggers review of Conservative campaign

O'Toole triggers review of Conservative campaign
Mail-in ballots still need to be counted, but so far projections show the Conservatives finishing with 119 seats, compared to the Liberals with 158, returning the Grits to Parliament with a minority government.

O'Toole triggers review of Conservative campaign

One dead in shooting near Vernon, B.C., police

One dead in shooting near Vernon, B.C., police
A suspect vehicle was spotted near Armstrong and RCMP say they arrested one man. RCMP Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says more details about the identity of the victim will be released after further investigation and once relatives are informed.

One dead in shooting near Vernon, B.C., police

Pregnant, breastfeeding? Doctor says get vaccine

Pregnant, breastfeeding? Doctor says get vaccine
Dr. Bonnie Henry says 40 pregnant women have received intensive care in the province in the last few months and while that group of people wasn't included in clinical trials, real-life evidence shows vaccination prevents severe illness and hospitalization.

Pregnant, breastfeeding? Doctor says get vaccine

17 Indo-Canadians elected MPs as Trudeau fails to win majority

17 Indo-Canadians elected MPs as Trudeau fails to win majority
Among the 17 Indo-Canadian winners are Jagmeet Singh, former Minister Tim Uppal and three current Cabinet Ministers Harjit Singh Sajjan, Bardish Chagger and Anita Anand.

17 Indo-Canadians elected MPs as Trudeau fails to win majority

Close races to be decided by mail-in ballots

Close races to be decided by mail-in ballots
In ridings where lots of votes were received by mail, staff may not be able to start actually counting them until tomorrow and may have to continue for several days.

Close races to be decided by mail-in ballots

NDP leader defends leadership after minimal gains

NDP leader defends leadership after minimal gains
New Democrats had high hopes heading into Monday’s vote that a breakthrough might be coming thanks to greater voter recognition of Singh, more money to spend on the campaign, and a sense the Liberals under Justin Trudeau were vulnerable.    

NDP leader defends leadership after minimal gains