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LETTERS: Referendum rules won’t be changed for Surrey RCMP bid

High hurdle must be cleared in all of B.C.’s 87 ridings
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Editor:

I have read Frank Bucholtz’s column regarding the policing referendum petition and am amazed that the organizer would hope for a provincial concession.

It appears that Bill Tieleman, lobbyist for the national police federation, the RCMP union is once again involved in this type of venture.

Mr. Tieleman certainly is aware of the fact that 10 per cent of the registered voters in each of the 87 B.C. ridings must be signed in order to bring the matter to a vote, (which) is a difficult task.

At the same time, he states that while the organizers will do their best to crest the very high hurdle, he is hopeful that the province may allow a referendum if the number of people signing the nine Surrey ridings is particularly high.

To even to think that this could occur is absurd.

One of the hallmarks of a free society is the Rule Of Law principle – that is: government must not only make the law but follow the law as well.

Mr. Bucholtz ends his column as follows: if the initiative is backed in sufficient numbers, the voters of Surrey will have the last word.

I think that the word non-voter would be more appropriate.

Michael Palmer, White Rock