'We pick the RCMP,' defiant Surrey mayor says, after province recommends continuing transition to local police

The B.C. government has recommended the City of Surrey keep its independent municipal police force and continue its transition away from the RCMP, but Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke rejected the province's recommendation and said she wants to retain the Mounties' services.

"We have a choice, and we pick the RCMP," said Locke in a news conference where she heavily criticized Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, calling his report into the province's recommendation "disingenuous" and "half-baked."

In particular, Locke took issue with the fact that the report was heavily redacted.

"We're open to sitting at the table if there is anything at the table, but I'm not going to be handed a redacted report ... and make a decision," she said.

Locke's comments came hours after Farnworth said it was ultimately up to the city to decide which path to take — but that if Surrey decided to retain the RCMP, the city must follow several conditions, including a revised city plan and individualized human-resources plans for affected officers.

"I think what's critical is the City of Surrey takes the time to thoroughly go through the report," said Farnworth. 

In addition, the province said it would provide financial support to cover the costs of the transition if Surrey sticks with the Surrey Police Service (SPS) — estimated at up to $150 million over the next five years — but will not provide financial assistance if it reverts back to the RCMP, which would include approximately $72 million in severance that would have to be given to SPS officers. 

"We are prepared to sit down with them to go through the financial issues raised in the past," said Farnworth. 

But Locke indicated the financial incentives weren't enough to change her mind.

"Because he put some money on the table, did that change my opinion? Not really," she said. 

Farnworth said a large reason for the recommendation was chronic staffing shortages at RCMP detachments across B.C., and the risk of further shortages if the RCMP was forced to transfer hundreds of officers back to Surrey if the SPS was eliminated.

"Now is not the time to put policing levels at risk in any community, at Surrey or anywhere else," said Farnworth. 

The province also cited the recent inquiry into the mass shooting in Nova Scotia, which was critical of the RCMP's response in the deaths of 22 people, as a piece of evidence in its decision-making.

'Time to continue with this significant change'

In a written statement, SPS Chief Const. Norm Lipinski said the force was appreciative of the province's endorsement. 

"This is a rare opportunity to build a police service that is rooted in the principles, values and realities of today's world and a chance to redefine policing for Surrey," Lipinski said. 

"It is my hope that council will recognize that now is the time to continue with this significant change in their policing model that will bring progressive and effective policing to the city for future generations."

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, meanwhile, expressed disappointment in the vagueness of the province's directive. 

"While all of us had hoped for definitive clarity on this issue today, it appears that we're going to have to wait a while longer," McDonald said, adding that the uncertainty over the past few years of transition has been "draining" for RCMP officers. 

'Political project started by a former mayor run amok'

McDonald also acknowledged the challenges the police force has had in attracting new officers but noted that this is a Canada-wide phenomenon and is not unique to Surrey. 

He said the Surrey RCMP currently has about 160 vacancies. 

The National Police Federation, which represents 20,000 RCMP officers across Canada, also commented on the announcement today, saying it was glad to hear Mayor Locke's assertion that Surrey would retain the RCMP. 

"This has never been about public safety, but rather a political project started by a former mayor run amok and now exacerbated by the province, costing all B.C. residents millions of dollars," said Brian Sauvé, the president and CEO of the National Police Federation.

Sauvé said Locke's decision was "entirely consistent with the wishes of a majority of Surrey voters."

Residents 'deserve to be engaged': councillor

Coun. Linda Annis says the city needs to review the provincial report and consult with residents through a referendum.

"The residents of Surrey deserve to be engaged," Annis told CBC on Saturday.

She says the prolonged decision-making process is leaving both SPS and RCMP officers in a state of limbo, and residents just want to hear a decision and start moving in one direction. 

"This has been the ongoing topic for the past four and a half years, it's sidetracking a lot of other very important issues that we should be dealing with in Surrey."

No unilateral order from province

While policing is under municipal jurisdiction, the province is responsible for maintaining an adequate level of policing across the province under the B.C. Police Act. 

As such, the province determined it could not unilaterally order Surrey to get rid of the RCMP but believed it had the jurisdiction to create additional conditions, including ordering the city not to rely on hiring officers from other RCMP detachments should they continue with a local RCMP force. 

"Everyone deserves to be safe in their community, and all British Columbians deserve secure, stable policing they can count on," said Farnworth in a statement.

"The people of Surrey are very frustrated by years of uncertainty over this debate, but we must move forward without reducing police presence when we need it the most."

At the moment, both the SPS — which was created in 2020 following an election campaign promise by then-mayor Doug McCallum — and the Surrey RCMP employ hundreds of officers, each with joint jurisdiction in the city.

Surrey has the largest local RCMP detachment in the country.

McCallum appeared jubilant at a news conference called by his Safe Surrey Coalition party, during which he repeated that a municipal force will be more responsive to the city's policing needs than the RCMP.

"I just want to say, what a great decision, I feel like doing some dancing up here," he said.

"The RCMP over the years has not moved forward, as per a number of reports that have come out recently. Their type of policing, their model of policing is broken."

Speaking in front of his election sign that said, "Doug gets it done," McCallum demurred when asked if he planned to run for mayor again. 

"I haven't made any decisions. I'm enjoying family life right now," he said.