Premier David Eby含羞草研究社檚 best estimate on when Surrey will learn what his government含羞草研究社檚 decision is on the city含羞草研究社檚 policing transition is in 含羞草研究社渃oming weeks.含羞草研究社�
But Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke suspects it may come sooner.
含羞草研究社淲e are very cautiously optimistic this will be resolved in the next week or so,含羞草研究社� Locke told the Now-Leader on Friday. 含羞草研究社淢y hope is by next week I know where Surrey is on answering the questions for the ministry so I含羞草研究社檓 very hopeful we含羞草研究社檙e going to be able to have some kind of resolution by the end of next week, maybe the week after.含羞草研究社�
Still, 含羞草研究社渃oming weeks含羞草研究社� was Eby含羞草研究社檚 response after the Now-Leader asked him during a presser in Surrey on Friday if he could provide at least a ballpark timeline on when Surrey will have a decision from his government.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e expecting final information from the city of Surrey in the coming weeks and once that information has been confirmed by the ministry of the solicitor general and that they含羞草研究社檙e satisfied that public safety has been addressed in any plan that Surrey含羞草研究社檚 putting forward, the matter will be remitted to Surrey to proceed as is their ability to do, which is the best direction that they think the city of Surrey should move forward on,含羞草研究社� Eby said.
He said he recognizes there is 含羞草研究社渉uge urgency含羞草研究社� on the part of Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, city council and Surrey residents that the issue gets resolved. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e working hard at the provincial level with City of Surrey staff to clarify the numbers and the plan to make sure that we含羞草研究社檙e discharging our duty and get this back as quickly as possible to Surrey含羞草研究社檚 hands.含羞草研究社�
Premiere Eby responding to question on the timeline of the policing transition in Surrey
含羞草研究社� Anna Burns (@AnnaBBurns)
The RCMP has been Surrey含羞草研究社檚 police of jurisdiction since it took over from the Surrey Police on May 1, 1951, as the result of a plebiscite. Surrey含羞草研究社檚 is the largest RCMP detachment in all of Canada.
On Nov. 5th, 2018, the council of the day, led by mayor Doug McCallum, served notice to the provincial and federal governments that it would end its contract with the RCMP to set up its own force.
Four years and one civic election later, on Nov. 14, 2022, the current council led by Locke decided on a 5-4 vote to maintain the Surrey RCMP as this city含羞草研究社檚 police of jurisdiction instead of forging ahead with the Surrey Police Service.
Both camps in this acrimonious struggle roundly slammed Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth含羞草研究社檚 announcement on Thursday, Jan. 26 that more information was needed from either side to 含羞草研究社渋nform further consideration含羞草研究社� as to whether Surrey should maintain the RCMP as its police department of jurisdiction or continue with the transition to the Surrey Police Service from the RCMP.
含羞草研究社淭he longer two police agencies are operating with this uncertainty, the more taxpayer dollars are being unnecessarily spent. The instability needs to come to an end, and a timely response is critical,含羞草研究社� Locke fumed at the time.
The Surrey Police Board, which is set to next meet on Feb. 22, also lamented that delay, stating in a press release it is 含羞草研究社渦nfortunate that a matter of such critical importance to the community is being delayed.含羞草研究社�
Asked Friday if he can含羞草研究社檛 narrow the timeline to something other that coming weeks, Eby replied that the 含羞草研究社渃hallenge含羞草研究社� is that the solicitor general has a statutory responsibility to ensure public safety in the transition plan.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e certainly aware of the urgency at the provincial level and the critical piece is that there is a credible transition plan that everybody can have confidence that that public safety piece is crossed off, and once we can do that then we含羞草研究社檙e ready to go.含羞草研究社�
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on
