The B.C. Supreme Court has overturned the City of Surrey’s judicial review petition aimed at stopping Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth’s decision the RCMP must be replaced by the Surrey Police Service.
The City of Surrey will continue to transition to the Surrey Police Service.
“People in Surrey want this to be over. I am hopeful that today’s ruling is the time to come together to complete the transition to the Surrey Police Service,” Farnworth said.
“The safety of people in Surrey and across British Columbia has always been my main priority. Every action I have taken has been rooted in ensuring safe and effective policing so that when people call 911, help is on the way.”
Farnworth said he hopes the City of Surrey wants to meet the province “at the table” to continue this transition and there will not be any further disruptions.
In a statement, Surrey Police Service Chief Const. Norm Lipinski said the department is pleased with the decision.
“While the City of Surrey’s judicial review petition did not directly involve SPS, it obviously impacted our 427 employees and their families – today’s ruling brings them significant reassurance,” he said.
“It is past time for us to start working together to expedite the policing transition for the benefit of the RCMP and SPS employees, the residents of Surrey, and public safety in this great city.”
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she accepted the ruling, but would not say if the city was going to appeal the decision or not.
“As I have said all along, I would respect the decision of Honourable Justice Loo, and I do,” Locke said.
However, she added, as outlined in the decision, it will be more expensive for Surrey’s taxpayers for the SPS transition, than it would to retain the RCMP.
“I very much look forward to the release of the court transcripts for you to read,” Locke added.
She said the true cost of the transition will put an “extremely, extremely onerous burden on the City of Surrey and taxpayers.”
Locke said that if it were not for this police transition, there would have been no tax increase for Surrey’s residents in 2024.
The Surrey Board of Trade echoed Locke’s sentiments, saying they are disappointed with the decision.
“The financial implications of this decision will be significant, particularly for the business community,” Anita Huberman, president & CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade said.
“Higher taxes will not only increase operational costs but may also lead to a reduction in services that are vital for the economic health and overall quality of life in Surrey. It is crucial for the city’s leadership to carefully consider their next steps to mitigate these impacts.”
The police transition, which began in 2018 under former mayor Doug McCallum, ran into speedbumps after Locke was elected on a pledge to stop it and keep the RCMP.
The province ultimately ordered Surrey to complete the transition and replaced the Surrey Police Board with a special administrator to push the work through.
In November, the administrator appointed to replace the police board projected Surrey Police Service officers would outnumber their RCMP counterparts by the end of 2024.
In April, the City of Surrey rejected a funding deal to help offset the costs of its transition to a municipal police force.
Farnworth said the city had approached the province to negotiate the transition to the Surrey Police Service (SPS) in January, leading to a deal package the province offered with an April deadline.
Farnworth said that despite Locke indicating previously that the council had agreed in principle to the financial commitment, the city ultimately opted not to take the deal.
The agreement would have provided Surrey with a previously reported $150 million over five years to help complete the transition.
On top of that, the province had committed to providing up to $20 million a year for the five years after that should the SPS cost the city more than the RCMP between 2029 and 2034.
“This agreement would have given people certainty that there would be no reason for police-related tax increases for at least a decade,” Farnworth said.
On May 23, Farnworth said the offer of $150 million is still available.
He added that the goal remains to reach the police of jurisdiction date on Nov. 29.
-with files from Simon Little