Farnworth did not confirm if the province’s offer is $250 million as had been widely reported but said he’ll be able to say more after 4 p.m.
Article content
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said today that the City of Surrey has until 4 p.m. this afternoon to decide on a “final” offer from the province that adds more money for a transition to a new municipal police force.
Farnworth did not confirm if the province’s offer is $250 million as had been widely reported but said he’ll be able to say more after 4 p.m.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Article content
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke’s majority council has been in a fight to stop the transition started more than 3 1/2 years ago, and have vowed to stick with the RCMP because it is less expensive.
Speaking to reporters in the legislature Tuesday, Farnworth said he understood that Surrey council considered the province’s offer on Monday night.
He said he needs to hear back from the council on the result of that, noting there is a deadline of 4 p.m. today.
Farnworth did not say what would happen after 4 p.m. if Surrey does not accept the offer.
“Time to fish or cut bait,” he said.
Earlier in the morning, Locke delivered a draft budget for Surrey with a proposed seven per cent tax hike that does not include transitioning to the new Surrey Police Service. The mayor reiterated that it was the position of the council to stick with the RCMP.
The city launched a B.C. Supreme Court challenge to the B.C. government’s order that Surrey continue the transition to the Surrey Police Service. A five-day hearing is scheduled to begin later this month. Farnworth would not say if there are any conditions attached to the transition money such as requiring the city to drop the lawsuit.
Sunrise
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Locke and her council’s opposition is largely over increased costs for a municipal force, estimated at $30 million a year, or about 15 per cent more than the RCMP. Initially, the B.C. government offered $150 million to help with the new police force, but recently put a new offer on the table.
In delivering the budget this morning, Locke said continuing the transition would cost an additional half billion dollars over the next decade.
“Times are tough and I will not artificially inflate taxes when families are struggling to pay for mortgages, rent, food, and other essential expenses,” stressed Locke.
Locke said if the city is forced to go with the Surrey Police Service, the city will provide a fiscal update in the fall that will make it clear what the cost implications are to Surrey taxpayers.
She said she has not considered if there are any other measures the city can take to stop the transition if they lose the court case. “We are in the litigation process right now, and we’ll just move forward with that,” said Locke.
The dispute over policing in Surrey is hitting the 18-month mark.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Locke campaigned and won an election in fall 2022 on halting the transition started by her predecessor, former mayor Doug McCallum.
Locke and her council have also balked at approving spending that would allow the Surrey Police Service to continue its expansion. The SPS’s request for $141.5 million in 2024 would provide money to hire another 180 officers, bringing the total number of municipal police officers to 526.
A city budget must be finalized by May 15.
More to come …
Recommended from Editorial
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
Article content
