The mayor’s ruling party on council refused to hear from a man petitioning to keep the RCMP in Surrey.
South Surrey’s Ivan Scott has gathered more than 8,500 names on a petition to keep the Mounties in this city, contrary to Safe Surrey’s plan to replace them with a Surrey Police Department.
Ivan Scott and his wife Merle watch as Surrey council refuses to hear them as a delegation Monday. (Kevin Diakiw/Photo)
Scott put in a request to appear before council to update it on “the campaign and public feedback regarding the creation of a new municipal police force.”The mayor called for a vote on it, and the request was denied by all Safe Surrey Coalition councillors with no discussion.
Couns. Steven Petttgrew, Brenda Locke, Jack Hundial and Linda Annis wanted to hear from Scott.
After the meeting, Scott expressed frustration in the mayor and his team.
“I’m really, really annoyed,” Scott told Pulse FM after the meeting (see video). “I’m going to go back and think about this, and build up a strategy, and think about what we can do to answer this. At this point in time, I just want to reflect.”
McCallum told Pulse FM after the council meeting that Scott is one person of many who want to appear before council, adding the city can’t hear from them all.
When asked if Scott’s 8,500 signatures on a petition didn’t give him more profile, the mayor questioned the figures.
“I don’t even think online he’s got a proper process,” McCallum said. “So, I would question the figures that he has.”
He said the city has only seen 600 signatures from Scott.
Scott said his petition numbers are solid, and growing by about 1,000 a week.
People, he said, are furious with the push for a Surrey Police Department.
“To take the most professional police force in the world, and replace it with an amateur police force, people don’t want that,” Scott said.
Asked if he’ll be looking to speak with McCallum in the future, Scott said he didn’t think so.
“I don’t think there’s any point in talking to Mr. McCallum, he doesn’t want to hear what I have to say,” Scott said. “He doesn’t care what I have to say. He only cares what he knows and what he thinks should happen.”
The city’s police transition plan is now awaiting the okay from the province.
Mike Farnworth, the minister in charge, said he won’t be hurried into a decision.