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
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.