SPS/RCMP Saga in Surrey is almost over, maybe

I've written about this before and it looks like a decision will be made when we are away.  In the 80's I lived in Richmond.  Mayor Brodie researched replacing the Richmond RCMP with a municipal force.  I remember when it happened and thought it was a good idea.  He crunched the numbers and ended abruptly before any money was spent and said "Richmond is well served with the RCMP and it's cheaper than starting our own force".  I remember that well because I was surprised.

I am careful what I write on my blog but the tweet I read last night (below), without naming names, is exactly what my neighbours and friends are saying.  I predict the NDP government will force the SPS on the Surrey residents.  Our city council voted to keep the RCMP as our police.  They would go against the city council's vote.  I hope I am wrong, but from what we've been hearing, this looks like the decision from the province.  

The cost per the province's numbers of completing the transition from RCMP to SPS is $30 million more a year.  Surrey staff says it's more like $40 million a year.  That is a red flag to every taxpayer in Surrey.  The government told us they would give Surrey $150 million to cover the cost of the transition.  What happens when the money is used?  Taxpayers will get a huge tax increase.  This year our tax increase was 12.5%.  It would have been 17.5% but the province gave us money for infrastructure that was used to offset these high taxes.  Business taxes were much higher.  

Safety is NOT an issue in Surrey.  Staffing with the RCMP has been addressed and they will give us enough officers in a reasonable time.  If it is SPS, I hope there is an inquiry as there is something rotten in the politics of some Surrey and Victoria politicians. 

This tweet says it all:

This is yet one of THOUSANDS of Surrey residents that feel the exact same way. Regardless of where they're at in the polls, the BC NDP cannot win the next election without Surrey. The @surreyps/@SurreyRCMP matter was never about a "safer Surrey." Ever. It was always, and remains to this day, about satisfying a few despicable Indo Canadian power brokers that manipulated their own, innocent community into believing that the Surrey RCMP are racist and against them. This is the biggest lie ever told in Surrey history. As well, those same few Indo Canadian power brokers have funded MULTIPLE @BCNDPCaucus campaigns (paying off the debts of at least one Surrey MLA) and funding both McCallum campaigns for mayor, plus a significant portion of the last @surreyfirst campaign (Elections BC should investigate). This has been a concerted effort to lie, cheat and manipulate Surrey into a new police force. The media knows this but IGNORES this reality. Sadly, @mikefarnworthbc doesn't care. He's proven that. Very disappointing. But the media have Ostrich syndrome on this one because one of their colleagues is married to SPS Chief Lipinski. This BIAS is altogether shameful. Surrey has ground to a halt over this. Taxes have gone through the roof. Expenses have skyrocketed. This is what McCallum and his bagman have wrought, and what the BC NDP has facilitated to date. If you want the real story watch/listen to @JanetBrown980 and listen to @JasJohalBC. @keep_bc @blueoil23 @DebbieTheilmann @captainramona @HilaryT75527886 @WalterRJohnsto1 @brendalockebc @LindaAnnisBC @PardeepKKooner @linda_hepner

SPS Police Chief, Norm Lipinski is married to Lynda Steele a well known journalist and television personality.  She currently runs a talk show on CHEK TV.  

Global BC has Kash Heed and Wally Oppal on speed dial.  They never show the other side of the story.  I've stopped watching Global and turned to CTV and CBC. 

I can name names, but would never put them on my blog.  Their names are well known to people in the community.