VICTORIA, B.C. - Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, has issued the following statement:
“The Surrey police transition has been entirely mishandled by the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General from the start. Since the decision was made to move away from the RCMP there should have been a clear date of change of command. Now we finally have a date, November 29, 2024, the details have yet to be worked out. I have been demanding strong leadership to navigate this important transition and all we've got was political theatre. It has cost the residents of Surrey and all British Columbians tremendously.
“The Special Committee to Reform the Police Act offered a collaborative all-party option through an oversight committee. The example of the Surrey police transition shows how essential it is to remove political biases from police reforms. Despite the committee's unanimous recommendations for a transition from the RCMP to a provincial service, they were ignored, halting progress and increasing costs and safety issues in Surrey. As legislators, we must make sure the government is held accountable to these expert and public consultations, and that any changes to policing are rooted in evidence and consensus, rather than political agendas.”
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