Our city voted to replace the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with our own police force Surrey Police Services (SPS) in 2018. However, all the promises made by the new police force have not been fulfilled. The SPS said by 2021 they would be the police of jurisdiction. It's now 2024! As of today the SPS has 205 officers on the street. Where are they going to find the remaining officers? The RCMP will not move over to the SPS but be redeployed elsewhere in Canada if this transition goes ahead.
This is from the City of Surrey website as to their decision to why we need to retain the RCMP.
After careful considering of the information, it was clear to Council that the provincially-ordered police transition would cost Surrey taxpayers hundreds of millions while delivering no public safety benefit to Surrey.
Council based their decision on the following facts:
- The SPS would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars:
- The SPS would cost taxpayers a minimum of $31.9 million more annually, compared to the RCMP.
- City costs would increase by a minimum of $464 million over the next 10 years.
- A double-digit tax hike would be the direct result of the provincial order, costing each taxpayer thousands of dollars.
- There is no evidence the police transition would benefit public safety:
- The proposed transition was poorly conceived, planned, and implemented.
- Today, 75% of police officers in Surrey are with the RCMP.
- The SPS has hired 132 officers receiving full compensation who are not deployed.
- The SPS is nowhere near having the frontline officers to become the police of jurisdiction.
- SPS recruitment will have a significant destabilizing effect on policing throughout the Lower Mainland.
We had an election in 2022 and the citizens elected Mayor Brenda Locke who mandated to keep the RCMP. The B.C. Police Act https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/consol15/consol15/00_96367_01 stated the City could choose it's own police force.
A review was done with the SPS and RCMP. It was sent to Minister Farnworth and when it was reviewed by the province, the City had to sign non-disclosure agreements so none of the tax payers have any information!
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth changed the B. C. Police Act in November 2023. Now, we don't have a choice but they are forcing the SPS police force most citizens don't want by giving us a bribe of $150 million. It will not cover the cost! The government added another $100 million to the transition. Yesterday, in a televised news conference, a very nervous Mike Farnworth took the $100 million off the table. When he raised a glass of water, he was shaking. He said he would give us a transition date next week. This entire process is sleazy and could be corrupt! Solicitor General Mike Farnworth didn't agree with what the voters wanted and changed the law! What are they hiding?
The City of Surrey asked for a Judicial Review. It will take place at the end of the month. It's alleged that some improper activities have taken place within our Provincial Government. If the above is true, I trust we the taxpayers will find out exactly what has transpired. Hopefully they release ALL the information on both sides.
I stand with Mayor Brenda Locke to keep the RCMP in our city. The 150 million dollar bribe from the government should the judicial review side with the city should go to hospitals, schools and housing throughout the province where it is desperately needed.
Statement from Mayor Brenda Locke April 9, 2024
The plot thickens:
