Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Surrey must stay with local police instead of RCMP: B.C. government

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Jul, 2023 12:56 PM
  • Surrey must stay with local police instead of RCMP: B.C. government

The safety of the residents of Surrey, B.C., and the rest of the province is "non-negotiable" and is the provincial government's main reason for forcing the city to move ahead with an independent police force, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said. 

He said Wednesday the city's transition to the RCMP would be going "backwards," despite the wishes of Surrey's mayor and council. 

Farnworth said he expects this to be "the final decision" in the tempest between Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and the provincial government where the transition to an independent police force was halted to return to the RCMP. 

The province said has told the mayor, the City of Surrey, the RCMP, the Semiahmoo First Nation, the federal government and others about the decision.  Farnworth said he spoke with Locke, who didn't didn't agree with the decision. 

Locke was elected last October on the promise to revert to the Mounties well into the hiring process for the Surrey Police Service, where millions had been spent on the change. 

Farnworth said he spoke to Locke about the government's decision, and she didn't agree with it.

Earlier this year, Farnworth said he wanted the city to continue with the transition citing safety reasons over the RCMP, which has staff vacancy and recruiting issues in B.C. and across Canada. 

"At this point, moving forward with the Surrey Police Service is the only path forward to protect the safety of the people of Surrey and across B.C.," Farnworth said during a news conference.  

Despite the provincial government's wishes and an offer of $150 million to help with the transition to a local department, the mayor and council doubled down on the decision, saying last month it would stick with the RCMP. 

On Wednesday, Farnworth said the province has recommitted to providing the city with that funding to help offset costs and to prevent the added expense from being downloaded onto city taxpayers. 

Farnworth said his decision under the Police Act will avoid a crisis in policing in the province, stopping Surrey from taking Mounties from other areas of the province.

He said he carefully considered the city’s report on moving back to the RCMP, but Surrey has not demonstrated that doing so would be safe or would not affect other communities.

A statement from Locke on Wednesday said Farnworth's decision is misguided and based on inaccurate assumptions. 

She said the province was disingenuous when it gave council options on how policing in Surrey would proceed, when the city never had any choice in the matter. 

Locke said Farnworth's selective interpretation of the Police Act is of concern, noting that municipalities also have the authority under the act to choose the model by which they police their areas. 

She said she'll be meeting with council and city staff to "explore our options."

"I will also be asking for a face-to-face meeting with the minister to understand how he intends to compensate the significant tax burden that will be placed on Surrey residents and businesses as a result of his decision to continue with the Surrey Police Service." 

"What is equally frustrating is the amount of time it has taken for the Solicitor General to arrive at this point. His 8-month delay has now cost Surrey taxpayers more than $60M."

The policing debate has grown fractious between the province and Locke, who accused Farnworth of bullying and misogyny earlier this year. 

Farnworth had said the city was playing "games" when it didn't immediately provide details about how it would manage the switch. 

Surrey City Councillor Linda Annis and Mayor of Vancouver Ken Sim are both glad the long draw saga of Surrey RCMP vs the Surrey Police Service has finally gotten closure.

On Wednesday, Farnworth said it has recommitted to providing the city with that funding to help offset costs and to prevent the added expense from being downloaded onto city taxpayers. 

This summer, Farnworth said he will begin consultation on legislation to be considered this fall to ensure that this type of situation never happens again. 

Farnworth said a collaboration between the city, the Surrey Police Service and the RCMP is essential to continue the transition, and he has made it clear to all parties that he expects them to work together to achieve the goal of keeping people safe. 

In order to help with the transition, the ministry has appointed Jessica McDonald to fulfil requirements put in place by the minister. 

McDonald, the former president of BC Hydro, will help the parties meet timelines, facilitate dispute resolution and ensure effective communication to complete the transition, the government said in a statement. 

Former B.C. attorney general Wally Oppal, who wrote a detailed report on how Surrey could transition to an independent police force, was at Farnworth's news conference.

He said the government had no other choice. 

“The RCMP simply could not meet the challenge of the numbers.”

Oppal, a former judge, said he has been providing consulting services to the Surrey Police Service and speaks regularly with Farnworth. 

A statement issued from the Surrey Police Union, which represents officers on the independent force said the province's decision brings confidence and stability to those officers who have committed their careers to Surrey.

"It is with great relief that we can now put the uncertainty surrounding policing behind us and focus on what really matters: public safety," the statement said. 

"Citizens across Canada want change in policing. Change can be difficult, but change is necessary." 

MORE National ARTICLES

Coquitlam RCMP need public's help in locating missing man Harman Dhaliwal

Coquitlam RCMP need public's help in locating missing man Harman Dhaliwal
Coquitlam RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing man, 32-year old Harman Dhaliwal. Harman was last seen on Sunday, June 25, 2023 leaving his residence near Como Lake Avenue and Blue Mountain Street in Coquitlam at 10:00 a.m.  

Coquitlam RCMP need public's help in locating missing man Harman Dhaliwal

David Eby resists early vote in B.C. despite big byelection wins for NDP

David Eby resists early vote in B.C. despite big byelection wins for NDP
Eby says although his party's candidates did "exceptionally well" on Saturday in the ridings of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Langford-Juan de Fuca on Vancouver Island, he'll stick with the fixed election date in October 2024.

David Eby resists early vote in B.C. despite big byelection wins for NDP

B.C. moved ahead with ending letter grades despite parent, teacher, student concerns

B.C. moved ahead with ending letter grades despite parent, teacher, student concerns
Education Minister Rachna Singh said last week that about half of all public school districts have already tested and adopted the new reporting style during a modernization of curriculum that started in 2016, while the rest would implement the change this September.

B.C. moved ahead with ending letter grades despite parent, teacher, student concerns

Province announces 100K in mental health for South Asians

Province announces 100K in mental health for South Asians
The funding will support three part-time outreach workers and others who will engage South Asians who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. The supports are expected to help between 50 and 75 people who use drugs as well as 150 to 200 family members.  

Province announces 100K in mental health for South Asians

Thousands mourn Sikh leader's funeral

Thousands mourn Sikh leader's funeral
Thousands of mourners from the Sikh community descended upon the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey on Sunday morning, to pay respects to the Gurdwara president, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot mutliple times a week ago in the parking lot of the Gurdwara and killed in his truck.

Thousands mourn Sikh leader's funeral

Advocates urge B.C. leaders to halt planned evictions at Abbotsford, B.C., tent camp

Advocates urge B.C. leaders to halt planned evictions at Abbotsford, B.C., tent camp
The BC Civil Liberties Association and Pivot Legal Society want Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon to stop any evictions at the Lonzo Park encampment, located on provincially owned land originally intended as a park-and-ride in Abbotsford. The letter reminds Kahlon that several B.C. Supreme Court rulings have found forcible eviction is illegal when other housing options are inadequate.  

Advocates urge B.C. leaders to halt planned evictions at Abbotsford, B.C., tent camp