Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has once again turned up the heat on Surrey council with a second letter as Mayor Brenda Locke鈥檚 Surrey Connect majority intends to retain the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction rather than continue transitioning to the Surrey Police Service.

Locke has not replied to requests for comment.

In a follow-up to his 鈥� in which he pressed council to make a final decision, which Locke has argued is the city鈥檚 alone to make 鈥� Farnworth鈥檚 second letter sent June 13 expresses concern that his ministry鈥檚 staff were told by city staff they will not be provided an advance copy of a corporate report before it comes before council for a critical vote on the future of policing in Surrey.

鈥淚t is troubling from a public safety perspective that Ministry officials are prevented an opportunity to provide advice regarding the suitability of the proposed plan to meet the mandatory and non-negotiable conditions,鈥� Farnworth鈥檚 second letter to council reads. 鈥淚t is also contrary to the good faith that Ministry Officials and City staff have been operating in to ensure that all relevant information is presented to Council to make an informed decision.鈥�

鈥淭his information sharing is critical to ensure that the Corporate Report drafted by City staff for Council鈥檚 consideration adequately addresses the mandatory conditions, requirements, financial implications including, full costing, and other relevant implications for each police model to ensure safe and effective policing in Surrey,鈥� Farnworth wrote. 鈥淢inistry officials were informed that City staff have received direction to not provide a copy of the Corporate Report in advance of Council鈥檚 further direction on this matter.鈥�

Farnworth warned that this could result in council voting on a plan that 鈥渕ay not鈥� meet 鈥渕andatory conditions and obligations placed on the City for either police model鈥� and expressed concern that should Surrey council 鈥渧ote on a plan that does not adequately address the mandatory and binding conditions on the transition, this already precarious situation could become further destabilized in an expedited timeline. This could create a policing crisis which puts into question safe and effective policing in the City of Surrey.鈥�

Council is set to consider a 鈥淪pecial Council Agenda鈥� this afternoon (Thursday, June 15), during a meeting that is closed to the public.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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