Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said in a canned statement that this year香蕉视频直播檚 Surrey Canada Day celebration was 香蕉视频直播渁 phenomenal showcase of national pride.香蕉视频直播�

But behind the scenes, it香蕉视频直播檚 alleged, there was effort made to keep Surrey MP Sukh Dhaliwal 香蕉视频直播� who has not yet confirmed his intention to run for mayor 香蕉视频直播� and Surrey Mounties in red serge from joining the mayor on stage at the Bill Reid Amphitheatre on July 1.

McCallum did not return a phone request for comment on Tuesday. The city香蕉视频直播檚 communications department also stated in emails he 香蕉视频直播渨ill not be commenting香蕉视频直播� and, 香蕉视频直播淭he City will not be commenting.香蕉视频直播�

Dhaliwal, meantime, said Tuesday he香蕉视频直播檚 in the process of writing to City Manager Vincent Lalonde in an attempt 香蕉视频直播渢o find out who gave the instruction to the staff and why would it happen. This was the first time I have ever seen something like this happen. This is the first time ever.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he attempts by the city to prevent me from participating in Canada Day was deeply disappointing,香蕉视频直播� Dhaliwal, Liberal MP for Surrey-Newton, told the Now-Leader. 香蕉视频直播淐anada Day is a celebration of our great country and not a time to play petty political games. We should expect better.香蕉视频直播�

Lalonde has not yet returned a request for comment.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP, told the Now-Leader on Tuesday that the 香蕉视频直播淪urrey RCMP received a last minute request for our officers in Red Serge not to march in the Canada Day civic procession. That request to remove officers from the procession was absolutely dismissed. Our officers proudly marched in the procession - a long-held tradition in our community. We remain honoured to participate in the Cloverdale event each year.香蕉视频直播�

Edwards declined to comment beyond this statement.

Coun. Linda Annis, of Surrey First, weighed in.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I first heard it I thought no, it香蕉视频直播檚 not true,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 did check in with staff at city hall and I also checked in with the RCMP and unfortunately, and I hate to say sadly, but it was true.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪pecifically I checked on the RCMP,香蕉视频直播� Annis said.

香蕉视频直播淎pparently,香蕉视频直播� she said, 香蕉视频直播渟taff that were there didn香蕉视频直播檛 have them included as part of the procession and I found that absolutely shocking.香蕉视频直播�

Traditionally there is a mustering station away from the stage from which the civic, provincial and federal-level politicians along with other dignitaries and the RCMP proceed to the stage where speeches are made.

香蕉视频直播淐ertainly as long as I香蕉视频直播檝e been a councillor the RCMP have always been included and they come in their red serge and march with us and this time they were just omitted from the procession and when they arrived thinking of course that they were part of it they were told no, they weren香蕉视频直播檛.香蕉视频直播�

Ultimately, the Mounties and Dhaliwal got up on the platform anyway, stage right and left.

The alleged exclusion, Annis said, 香蕉视频直播渨as I think a very disrespectful thing.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 have no idea where the instructions came from. I香蕉视频直播檓 certain it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the staff that were on site making that sort of decision. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know if it was political or it香蕉视频直播檚 just the underlying culture that香蕉视频直播檚 taking place in the city over the police transition or what it is, but it香蕉视频直播檚 an embarrassment, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know what else to say.香蕉视频直播�

The city is in the process of replacing the Surrey RCMP with the Surrey Police Service.

Mary Rukavina, Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 manager of special events & filming, parks, recreation and culture has not yet returned requests for comment.

Dhaliwal said every MP got a related package, 香蕉视频直播渁 badge or something.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 was the only one who that did not get that package,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t is my understanding that in fact instructions were given to the bylaw by the co-ordinator of events not to let Sukh Dhaliwal on the stage.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 am an elected Member of Parliament,香蕉视频直播� he stressed.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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