Editor:
Re: Surrey policing on agenda for MPs, council, Nov. 16.
Richmond did a thorough review when they were making a decision on going with the RCMP or their own police force.
The review included:
1) A public consultation to give everyone the opportunity for input.
2) Public information meetings for the voters.
3) A 200-page review that was made available to the public.
Richmond decided to keep the RCMP after their review.
South Surrey-White Rock MP Gordie Hogg said Surrey council “looked” at the Richmond review.
After this peekaboo, no information or opinions were passed along to Surrey voters by our elected officials.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum claims the votes he received from less than 14 per cent of the eligible voters is “overwhelming” support (Mayors comment ‘undermines trust’, Nov. 14).
Overwhelming support for what?
For the same thorough review Richmond had? For a referendum? For the mayor and council to “move rapidly and as quickly as possible to replace the RCMP?”
How much support would he have gotten if he had clearly spelled out the third option before the election?
How do the other 86 per cent of eligible voters feel about this topic?
The mayor comes across as the Emperor With New Clothes walking down the street oblivious of the majority of voters.
He needs to get past the feeling of being overwhelmed, put his clothes back on, roll up his sleeves and show some proper leadership.
To date we have not had any compelling or objective reasons for dropping the RCMP. We have only had emotional off-the-cuff remarks and politicizing from the mayor.
Residents of Surrey deserve the same thorough review that the residents of Richmond had.
Once the review has finished, a referendum should be held.
This is too big of a decision for one man and a minority of eligible voters to make.
The actions and words of our elected officials have served to confirm why my confidence and trust in the Surrey RCMP is greater than my confidence and trust in the Surrey mayor and council.
Daniel Dalton, Surrey