Premier David Eby香蕉视频直播檚 best estimate on when Surrey will learn what his government香蕉视频直播檚 decision is on the city香蕉视频直播檚 policing transition is in 香蕉视频直播渃oming weeks.香蕉视频直播�

But Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke suspects it may come sooner.

香蕉视频直播淲e are very cautiously optimistic this will be resolved in the next week or so,香蕉视频直播� Locke told the Now-Leader on Friday. 香蕉视频直播淢y hope is by next week I know where Surrey is on answering the questions for the ministry so I香蕉视频直播檓 very hopeful we香蕉视频直播檙e going to be able to have some kind of resolution by the end of next week, maybe the week after.香蕉视频直播�

Still, 香蕉视频直播渃oming weeks香蕉视频直播� was Eby香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙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 they香蕉视频直播檙e satisfied that public safety has been addressed in any plan that Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 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,香蕉视频直播� Eby said.

He said he recognizes there is 香蕉视频直播渉uge urgency香蕉视频直播� on the part of Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, city council and Surrey residents that the issue gets resolved. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e working hard at the provincial level with City of Surrey staff to clarify the numbers and the plan to make sure that we香蕉视频直播檙e discharging our duty and get this back as quickly as possible to Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 hands.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播� Anna Burns (@AnnaBBurns)

The RCMP has been Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 police of jurisdiction since it took over from the Surrey Police on May 1, 1951, as the result of a plebiscite. Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 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 city香蕉视频直播檚 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 Farnworth香蕉视频直播檚 announcement on Thursday, Jan. 26 that more information was needed from either side to 香蕉视频直播渋nform further consideration香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渦nfortunate that a matter of such critical importance to the community is being delayed.香蕉视频直播�

Asked Friday if he can香蕉视频直播檛 narrow the timeline to something other that coming weeks, Eby replied that the 香蕉视频直播渃hallenge香蕉视频直播� is that the solicitor general has a statutory responsibility to ensure public safety in the transition plan.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙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 we香蕉视频直播檙e ready to go.香蕉视频直播�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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