Province orders City of Surrey to stick with transition to municipal police force
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says going back to RCMP could cause a 'crisis in policing' in city
The province has ordered the City of Surrey to continue its transition to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), despite the new council's plan to revert to the RCMP.
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in a release Wednesday that the move to the RCMP could have caused a "crisis in policing" as the city failed to prevent an exodus of SPS officers.
Farnworth also said the city failed to demonstrate they could staff the Surrey RCMP without pulling RCMP officers from other communities, noting the organization is already experiencing a critical staffing shortage across the province and the country.
"The Surrey Police Service is the only path forward to ensuring the safety of the people of Surrey, as well as people across the province," Farnworth said.
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The decision by Farnworth comes three months after he "strongly recommended" that Surrey stick with its new police force, while putting in requirements if the city wished to continue with the RCMP instead.
The province upgrading their recommendation to an order sets up a potential battle with its second biggest municipality, as Mayor Brenda Locke made keeping the RCMP the signature issue in her election campaign last October.
"I know that this is an extraordinary use of my powers under the Police Act and I did not make this decision lightly," Farnworth said in a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
"As the minister for public safety and solicitor general, keeping people safe is not only my top priority, but it is my legal duty and responsibility."
"I have spoken to Mayor Locke to explain my decision," he added. "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."
Farnworth said the Police Act states his responsibility is to ensure an adequate and effective level of policing is maintained throughout B.C.
"Unfortunately, the city of Surrey has failed to meet the mandatory requirements to go back to the RCMP," he said. "That puts people at risk. It's just not safe to go backwards, and it's clear the people in Surrey want this uncertainty over."
A report from Farnworth's office found that more officers are retiring or leaving the RCMP than are joining, with 638 new cadets graduating this year and 842 members exiting. It also said there are currently about 1,500 vacancies across the RCMP in B.C.
Funding and a new role
Farnworth said he expects this to be "the final decision" in the tempest between Locke and the provincial government over the fate of policing in Surrey.
The province announced it is re-committing to providing the city with $150 million toward moving forward with the SPS, so costs are not passed on to residents and businesses.
Farnworth has also appointed Jessica McDonald, former deputy minister to the premier of B.C. and president and CEO of B.C. Hydro, as an advisor to facilitate the move toward the SPS.
"In this role, she will aid parties in meeting timelines, facilitate dispute resolution, and ensure effective communication and completion of the transition to the Surrey Police Service," says a release from the province.
In the release announcing the decision, the province said Farnworth would "begin consultation on legislation being considered for the fall to ensure that this type of situation never happens again."
Transition controversy
Surrey has long been the biggest municipality in Canada to contract its policing to the RCMP, but in 2018 Doug McCallum ran for mayor and won arguing that the city needed its own police force with leadership that would be more accountable to local citizens.
While the province approved the change, McCallum's reign as mayor was controversial, and he was narrowly defeated in his re-election bid last October by Locke, who argued keeping the RCMP would be more affordable.
Since her victory, the transition to the SPS has effectively been on pause as the municipality has fought with the province over its future, with the two forces costing Surrey an approximate $8 million extra per month.
Locke said in a statement Wednesday that Farnworth's decision was misguided and based on inaccurate assumptions.
She said the province was disingenuous when it gave council options on how policing in Surrey would proceed when the city never had any choice in the matter and that she would be meeting with council and city staff to explore further options.
"I will also be asking for a face-to-face meeting with the minister to understand how he intends to compensate the significant tax burden that will be placed on Surrey residents and businesses as a result of his decision to continue with the Surrey Police Service," the mayor added.
Police forces respond
Surrey Police Service Chief Norm Lipinski said the government's decision was made in the best interest of public safety in Surrey and across the province.
"There is no doubt that this is great news for our 400 employees and their families, but I also believe it is great news for Surrey residents who will now get to see the many benefits of a local police service tailored to their community," he said.
The RCMP focus throughout the transition process was to ensure public safety is not compromised, Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said in a statement.
McDonald, who is the B.C. RCMP's commanding officer, said the stable delivery of policing and retention of its members will be at the forefront of its planning.
"We are committed to being part of the planning and working with all stakeholders, including the City of Surrey, National Police Federation and Surrey Police Service moving forward."