Surrey – Well-known Surrey community leaders are joining with 83%[1] of Surrey residents to send a strong a message to Surrey’s MLAs and Councillors that now is not the time to continue with a police transition that will see higher taxes for less police.
“Three highly respected former Surrey Mayors, and a retired Surrey RCMP Inspector who is also a community leader have spoken out on this important issue. These leaders have been at the decision-making table; they understand the needs of Surrey residents and what it takes to keep their city safe,” said Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation. “It’s time Surrey’s Council and the Government of B.C. listen to these voices and pause this transition.”
A video of the leaders’ comments is available here.
Dianne Watts, former Surrey Mayor:
Highlights the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on residents: “People have lost their jobs, businesses have shut down. We don’t know what the future is going to look like. To put those costs on to the residents at this point in time really is not something that I would support in any way, shape or form. I think it’s very wrongheaded”.
Linda Hepner, former Surrey Mayor:
“We should use the pause on the police transition to become more transparent because this transition has seen the most limited consultation process that I have seen having served as Mayor, and under four different Surrey Mayors as Councillor and Director of Economic Development as well as Manager of Corporate Services.”
Bob Bose, former Surrey Mayor:
“There’s been absolutely no community engagement leading up to this decision, the community has been completely denied reasonable information on this transition.”
Baltej Singh Dhillon, retired Surrey RCMP Inspector:
Urges elected officials in Surrey to “Pause this transition for one year because we need to focus on the things that are important now, core services, vulnerable population, and issues that are going to impact our children”.
Pollara Strategic Insights survey of Surrey residents, April 2020. More info here.
About the National Police Federation:
The National Police Federation (NPF) was certified to represent ~20,000 RCMP members serving across Canada and internationally in the summer of 2019. The NPF is the largest police labour relations organization in Canada, the second largest in North America and is the first independent national association to represent RCMP members. The NPF will focus on improving public safety in Canada by negotiation the first-ever Collective Agreement for RCMP officers, and on increasing resources, equipment, training and supports for our members who have been under-funded for far too long. Better resourcing and support for the RCMP will enhance community safety and livability in the communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.
For more information: https://npf-fpn.com/.