Delaying decision on Surrey's policing plans was the right move, councillors say
B.C.’s public safety minister made the right call asking for more information before approving Surrey's policing plans, according to two city councillors.
Coun. Linda Annis told CTV News she supports Mike Farnworth’s decision to wait because she, too, has questions she’d like answered before moving forward.
Annis noted there were significant discrepancies in the information provided to the province by Surrey RCMP and the Surrey Police Service.
“What are the real numbers?” she asked. “We need them before we can make an informed decision.”
Farnworth decided to prolong the process earlier this week after reviewing submissions from the city and both law enforcement agencies on who should police the province’s fastest-growing city.
At a press conference on Thursday, he called the transition “complex” and said officials need to ensure a safe and adequate plan is in place before approving the city’s plans.
“This is the largest RCMP detachment in the country and it’s certainly the largest transition, I would suggest, in the history of the province,” he said.
Coun. Doug Elford said he agrees with Farnworth’s decision, but that residents need an answer soon.
“We need to know what direction we’re going to be going in, regardless of the decision, and I think the public is tiring of the debate. Surrey has a lot of other things we need to be dealing with,” said Coun. Doug Elford.
Some of those other issues include affordability and a growing unhoused population — the latter of which Jeff Schantz, a member of Anti-Police Power Surrey, would like funds directed to instead of law enforcement.
“If we’re serious about talking about public safety, wellness, wellbeing, and health in the city of Surrey, then we should be looking beyond policing,” he said.
In an email to CTV News, Surrey RCMP said it will be working with the city, B.C. RCMP, and the Police Services Branch “to ensure any additional information and data the province is seeking is supplied to them as soon as possible.”
There is still no timeline as to when a decision will be made.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.