Premier David EbyB次元官网网址檚 best estimate on when Surrey will learn what his governmentB次元官网网址檚 decision is on the cityB次元官网网址檚 policing transition is in B次元官网网址渃oming weeks.B次元官网网址�

But Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke suspects it may come sooner.

B次元官网网址淲e are very cautiously optimistic this will be resolved in the next week or so,B次元官网网址� Locke told the Now-Leader on Friday. B次元官网网址淢y hope is by next week I know where Surrey is on answering the questions for the ministry so IB次元官网网址檓 very hopeful weB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to have some kind of resolution by the end of next week, maybe the week after.B次元官网网址�

Still, B次元官网网址渃oming weeksB次元官网网址� was EbyB次元官网网址檚 response after the Now-Leader asked him during a presser in Surrey on Friday if he could provide at least a ballpark timeline on when Surrey will have a decision from his government.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e expecting final information from the city of Surrey in the coming weeks and once that information has been confirmed by the ministry of the solicitor general and that theyB次元官网网址檙e satisfied that public safety has been addressed in any plan that SurreyB次元官网网址檚 putting forward, the matter will be remitted to Surrey to proceed as is their ability to do, which is the best direction that they think the city of Surrey should move forward on,B次元官网网址� Eby said.

He said he recognizes there is B次元官网网址渉uge urgencyB次元官网网址� on the part of Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, city council and Surrey residents that the issue gets resolved. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working hard at the provincial level with City of Surrey staff to clarify the numbers and the plan to make sure that weB次元官网网址檙e discharging our duty and get this back as quickly as possible to SurreyB次元官网网址檚 hands.B次元官网网址�

Premiere Eby responding to question on the timeline of the policing transition in Surrey

B次元官网网址� Anna Burns (@AnnaBBurns)

The RCMP has been SurreyB次元官网网址檚 police of jurisdiction since it took over from the Surrey Police on May 1, 1951, as the result of a plebiscite. SurreyB次元官网网址檚 is the largest RCMP detachment in all of Canada.

On Nov. 5th, 2018, the council of the day, led by mayor Doug McCallum, served notice to the provincial and federal governments that it would end its contract with the RCMP to set up its own force.

Four years and one civic election later, on Nov. 14, 2022, the current council led by Locke decided on a 5-4 vote to maintain the Surrey RCMP as this cityB次元官网网址檚 police of jurisdiction instead of forging ahead with the Surrey Police Service.

Both camps in this acrimonious struggle roundly slammed Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike FarnworthB次元官网网址檚 announcement on Thursday, Jan. 26 that more information was needed from either side to B次元官网网址渋nform further considerationB次元官网网址� as to whether Surrey should maintain the RCMP as its police department of jurisdiction or continue with the transition to the Surrey Police Service from the RCMP.

B次元官网网址淭he longer two police agencies are operating with this uncertainty, the more taxpayer dollars are being unnecessarily spent. The instability needs to come to an end, and a timely response is critical,B次元官网网址� Locke fumed at the time.

The Surrey Police Board, which is set to next meet on Feb. 22, also lamented that delay, stating in a press release it is B次元官网网址渦nfortunate that a matter of such critical importance to the community is being delayed.B次元官网网址�

Asked Friday if he canB次元官网网址檛 narrow the timeline to something other that coming weeks, Eby replied that the B次元官网网址渃hallengeB次元官网网址� is that the solicitor general has a statutory responsibility to ensure public safety in the transition plan.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e certainly aware of the urgency at the provincial level and the critical piece is that there is a credible transition plan that everybody can have confidence that that public safety piece is crossed off, and once we can do that then weB次元官网网址檙e ready to go.B次元官网网址�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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