'Disappointing,' 'misguided' and 'inaccurate': Surrey mayor reacts to policing decision

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke opted not to take questions from the media on the provincial government's decision directing the city to continue its transition to a municipal police service Wednesday.

Instead, the mayor issued a scathing written statement, calling Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth's decision "disappointing, misguided and based on inaccurate assumptions."

"What has occurred today is the undermining of a local government duly elected by its residents," Locke's statement reads.

"The actions of the solicitor general should serve as a warning to the autonomy of all municipalities in B.C."

Locke also called the province's handling of the policing issue "disingenuous."

In April, Farnworth recommended that Surrey continue its transition from a local RCMP detachment to the new Surrey Police Service. 

Ditching the Surrey RCMP in favour of the SPS was the signature campaign promise of Locke's predecessor, Doug McCallum. Locke defeated McCallum in the municipal election last fall, basing her campaign around a promise to reverse the transition and keep the RCMP.

When Farnworth made his April recommendation, he also set binding conditions that Surrey would have to meet in order to keep the RCMP.

On Wednesday, he said the city had failed to meet those conditions.

Locke's statement suggested that the province set the city up to fail.

"It is very clear the City of Surrey never had a choice in this matter," the mayor said. "We had a choice so long as we chose minister Farnworth’s option."

Locke said she planned to meet with her colleagues on city council and with city staff to explore "options." She said she'll also be seeking "a face-to-face meeting" with Farnworth to discuss the "significant tax burden that will be placed on Surrey residents and businesses as a result of his decision."

"Until I have the opportunity to have those meetings, I will not be commenting further," Locke concluded. 

RCMP REACTION

The National Police Federation, a union representing RCMP officers across the country, put out a statement late in the day.

“With no plan in place, this is disappointing but not surprising. This has always been about politics over facts and evidence,” said NPF president and CEO Brian Sauvé.

“Our members have been living and working in uncertainty since late 2018 and have been stabilizing a fledgling police service since July 2020. There is still no end in sight.”

The union also expressed concern for what will happen to the RCMP officers still working in Surrey.

“We also ask the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP to ensure individualized HR plans for each Surrey detachment member reflecting their career aspirations and geographic postings of choice, which may be anywhere in Canada,” Sauvé said.  

In his own statement Wednesday, the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP took a more diplomatic approach.

Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald noted that Farnworth praised the "exceptional work" being done by Mounties in Surrey and across the province, and added his own praise for the "professionalism and dedication" of employees at the Surrey RCMP detachment.

McDonald said the RCMP would be "seeking clarity and specifics" from the city, province and federal government, as well as strategic implementation advisor Jessica McDonald, who Farnworth has appointed to guide the transition.

"Our focus since the very beginning of the transition has been to ensure that public safety is not compromised," the deputy commissioner said. "That focus will not change. Moving forward, the stability in the delivery of police services and the retention of our members will be at the forefront of all planning." 

SOLICITOR GENERAL 'VERY CONFIDENT' IN LEGAL AUTHORITY

For his part, Farnworth said Wednesday that he had spoken with Locke about the decision, which he repeatedly characterized as being the right choice for public safety in B.C.

"The mayor doesn't agree with my decision, but that won't stop me from doing the right thing for the people of Surrey and across our province," the minister said.

He added that he's "committed" to working with the city, its mayor and its council going forward.

Reporters asked Farnworth whether he expects a legal challenge to his decision from the City of Surrey, something Locke's statement neither suggested was likely nor ruled out.

"I'm very confident in the legal authority on which this decision is made," Farnworth said.

There are currently more than 400 sworn officers working for the SPS, alongside upwards of 500 working for the Surrey RCMP. Keeping both forces operating has been costing the city $8 million per month.

An independent financial analysis commissioned by the B.C. government determined that fully staffing the SPS with the 700-plus officers required would cost $30 million more annually than the Surrey RCMP – but that disbanding the SPS would cost Surrey $72 million in severance pay.

Earlier this year, the B.C. government offered $150 million to help offset the additional costs of running the SPS. The Ministry of Public Safety said the province remains committed to providing that funding.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel