Doug McCallum has been dethroned by Brenda Locke, the new mayor-elect of Surrey.
Locke is the leader of Surrey Connect, and a critical campaign promise was to keep the RCMP in Surrey. However, it remains to be seen the logistics of how reversing the Surrey Police Service would work or if it would even be possible.
Surrey Connect suggests the move would save taxpayers $500 each year.
Sticking with RCMP would save taxpayers $520M over next 4 years, Surrey Connect claims – Surrey Now-Leader. This is why Richmond and Red Deer said NO WAY. The SPS will cost taxpayers hundreds. @keep_rcmp #electconnect https://t.co/vLFK4Pip7B
— Brenda Locke (@brendalockebc) September 24, 2022
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Locke finished ahead of McCallum’s Safe Surrey Coalition and Gordie Hogg, who was running with Surrey First.
She was elected a councillor as part of the Safe Surrey Coalition in 2018.
Outside of making the RCMP the primary police force in Surrey, other Surrey Connect platform promises include reducing wait times for permits, putting residents at the centre of all decision-making, and ensuring fiscal transparency and accountability.
While Locke hasn’t promised to build Canada’s largest stadium, there are plans to invest in new sports and entertainment facilities. Surrey Connect will also re-establish an Ethics Commissioner and increase the budget for public safety departments, including Fire, Police and Law Services.
Eight councillors are to be elected for Surrey council, and as of 9:40 pm, leading vote-getters include Linda Annis, Harry Bains, Mike Bose, Gordon Gregory Hepner, Rob Stutt, Pardeep Kaur Kooner, Doug Elford and Mandeep Nagra.
For the latest results and updates of the outcome, check out Daily Hive’s Election Hub.