Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said in a canned statement that this year含羞草研究社檚 Surrey Canada Day celebration was 含羞草研究社渁 phenomenal showcase of national pride.含羞草研究社�

But behind the scenes, it含羞草研究社檚 alleged, there was effort made to keep Surrey MP Sukh Dhaliwal 含羞草研究社� who has not yet confirmed his intention to run for mayor 含羞草研究社� and Surrey Mounties in red serge from joining the mayor on stage at the Bill Reid Amphitheatre on July 1.

McCallum did not return a phone request for comment on Tuesday. The city含羞草研究社檚 communications department also stated in emails he 含羞草研究社渨ill not be commenting含羞草研究社� and, 含羞草研究社淭he City will not be commenting.含羞草研究社�

Dhaliwal, meantime, said Tuesday he含羞草研究社檚 in the process of writing to City Manager Vincent Lalonde in an attempt 含羞草研究社渢o find out who gave the instruction to the staff and why would it happen. This was the first time I have ever seen something like this happen. This is the first time ever.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭he attempts by the city to prevent me from participating in Canada Day was deeply disappointing,含羞草研究社� Dhaliwal, Liberal MP for Surrey-Newton, told the Now-Leader. 含羞草研究社淐anada Day is a celebration of our great country and not a time to play petty political games. We should expect better.含羞草研究社�

Lalonde has not yet returned a request for comment.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP, told the Now-Leader on Tuesday that the 含羞草研究社淪urrey RCMP received a last minute request for our officers in Red Serge not to march in the Canada Day civic procession. That request to remove officers from the procession was absolutely dismissed. Our officers proudly marched in the procession - a long-held tradition in our community. We remain honoured to participate in the Cloverdale event each year.含羞草研究社�

Edwards declined to comment beyond this statement.

Coun. Linda Annis, of Surrey First, weighed in.

含羞草研究社淲hen I first heard it I thought no, it含羞草研究社檚 not true,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 did check in with staff at city hall and I also checked in with the RCMP and unfortunately, and I hate to say sadly, but it was true.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淪pecifically I checked on the RCMP,含羞草研究社� Annis said.

含羞草研究社淎pparently,含羞草研究社� she said, 含羞草研究社渟taff that were there didn含羞草研究社檛 have them included as part of the procession and I found that absolutely shocking.含羞草研究社�

Traditionally there is a mustering station away from the stage from which the civic, provincial and federal-level politicians along with other dignitaries and the RCMP proceed to the stage where speeches are made.

含羞草研究社淐ertainly as long as I含羞草研究社檝e been a councillor the RCMP have always been included and they come in their red serge and march with us and this time they were just omitted from the procession and when they arrived thinking of course that they were part of it they were told no, they weren含羞草研究社檛.含羞草研究社�

Ultimately, the Mounties and Dhaliwal got up on the platform anyway, stage right and left.

The alleged exclusion, Annis said, 含羞草研究社渨as I think a very disrespectful thing.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 have no idea where the instructions came from. I含羞草研究社檓 certain it wasn含羞草研究社檛 the staff that were on site making that sort of decision. I don含羞草研究社檛 know if it was political or it含羞草研究社檚 just the underlying culture that含羞草研究社檚 taking place in the city over the police transition or what it is, but it含羞草研究社檚 an embarrassment, I don含羞草研究社檛 know what else to say.含羞草研究社�

The city is in the process of replacing the Surrey RCMP with the Surrey Police Service.

Mary Rukavina, Surrey含羞草研究社檚 manager of special events & filming, parks, recreation and culture has not yet returned requests for comment.

Dhaliwal said every MP got a related package, 含羞草研究社渁 badge or something.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 was the only one who that did not get that package,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t is my understanding that in fact instructions were given to the bylaw by the co-ordinator of events not to let Sukh Dhaliwal on the stage.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 am an elected Member of Parliament,含羞草研究社� he stressed.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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