B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth issued a statement Monday morning suggesting the City of Surrey is “playing games” by not immediately producing a new city hall report, on a plan to maintain the Surrey RCMP, he says had been promised to him last week.
In response, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke charged Farnworth with “fearmongering” and acting like a misogynistic “bully.”
Farnworth gave the city an ultimatum in a continuing political back and forth.
"I became concerned on Wednesday (June 14) when I learned city staff were preparing to present a report to city council about future policing in Surrey that had not been shared with the Province. Unfortunately, I also learned that city staff were directed to not provide it to my ministry officials,” Farnworth claimed in his statement.
Farnworth said he asked Locke for the city hall report, for him to analyze on public safety grounds, and requested she hold off on a council vote until he could review it, as Farnworth must approve any such plan so “safe and effective policing” in Surrey takes place.
At issue is last Thursday’s City of Surrey closed-door council vote that turned out a majority in favour of keeping the Surrey RCMP as the police of jurisdiction and de-transitioning the nascent Surrey Police Service (SPS), based on that report.
Locke and council members previously signed non-disclosure agreements on Farnworth’s own report that spelled out the two paths the city could take: keep the Mounties, on certain conditions, or maintain the transition to SPS, which Farnworth "strongly recommended" with a promise of unspecified financial support from the province to cover excessive costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars over the full term of the transition.
It's unclear what the city’s report specifies, but Locke said her council was simply doing what Farnworth had asked for — create a plan and approve it.
Technically, a city can choose its means of policing, but the ministry may overturn city decisions if it deems public safety is at risk — a subjective analysis the provincial police service headed by Farnworth must make.
Locke said public safety is not at risk by maintaining the Surrey RCMP.
Locke said the city required Farnworth and ministry staff to sign a non-disclosure agreement for the city hall report, which they only did on Monday.
Farnworth insisted, "the city has since been delaying giving us the report to review. First, it was promised by noon Friday, then by end of day Friday. My staff requested the report throughout the weekend. We have still received nothing.”
"It is critical that I receive this report. Now is not the time to play games. The safety of people in Surrey is too important.
"Ministry officials have advised the city that I need this report by 1 p.m. today to review it, or I will be forced to make a determination about what is necessary for safe and effective policing without it."
Locke said the report was on its way and Farnworth was being unreasonable in making media statements after just one business day.
“I want to remind you how long they took with their information,” said Locke.
Locke was asked by one reporter if the trouble she was facing was a result of her gender and she said misogyny has played a role.
Locke said, “until he gets his way he will continue to put up roadblocks and change the goalposts every step of the way, and that’s what he did again today. Furthermore, he has no interest in creating dialogue with city council and prefers to make his public statements through the media.”
