Metro Vancouver mayors vote unanimously in favour of Surrey RCMP

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says Metro Vancouver’s Mayor’s Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to support a motion in favour of Surrey retaining the RCMP as its municipal police force.

This committee is comprised of the elected leaders from 27 communities including cities, regional districts and First Nations.

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Locke said the mayor’s committee was “sending a clear message to the Solicitor General that Surrey should not only retain the RCMP, but a decision on this matter must be made promptly.” The motion was made by Delta Mayor George Harvie.

The policing issue in Surrey has been continuing since October 2022, when Locke was elected on a campaign promise to reverse her predecessor Doug McCallum’s creation of the Surrey Police Service.

In November 2022, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth was tasked with deciding which of the two forces would be ultimately responsible for public safety in Surrey.