BRITISH

COLUMBIA

VIA E-MAIL Ref: 654503

June 13, 2023

Her Worship Brenda Locke and City Council

City of Surrey
13450-104 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3T 1V8

Dear Mayor Brenda Locke and City Councillors:

I write in follow-up to my letter dated June 1, 2023, regarding the City of Surrey’s police model
transition. I appreciate that all members of Council have now signed and returned the confidentiality
agreement to the Province and have received the minimally redacted Director of Police Services’
Report on the City of Surrey’s Police Model Transition and Decision to Retain the RCMP.

As I mentioned in my letter on June 1, 2023, there has been significant work undertaken by Ministry
officials and City staff to establish an agreed upon process of information sharing. This information
sharing is critical to ensure that the Corporate Report drafted by City staff for Council’s consideration
adequately addresses the mandatory conditions, requirements, financial implications including, full
costing, and other relevant implications for each police model to ensure safe and effective policing in
Surrey.

Ministry officials were informed that City staff have received direction to not provide a copy of the
Corporate Report in advance of Council’s further direction on this matter.

It is troubling from a public safety perspective that Ministry officials are prevented an opportunity to
provide advice regarding the suitability of the proposed plan to meet the mandatory and non-negotiable
conditions. It is also contrary to the good faith that Ministry officials and City staff have been
operating in to ensure that all relevant information is presented to Council to make an informed
decision.

In this instance, Council could end up considering the Corporate Report and a plan that may not meet
the mandatory conditions and obligations placed on the City for either police model. It is important
that any plan by the City has agreement from trusted experts and career public servants in my Ministry.

I am concerned that should Council vote on a plan that does not adequately address the mandatory and
binding conditions on the transition, this already precarious situation could become further destabilized
in an expedited timeline. This could create a policing crisis which puts into question safe and effective
policing in the City of Surrey.

Ministry of Office of the Minister Mailing Address:

Public Safety Parliament Buildings
and Solicitor General Victoria BC V8V 1X4
The mandatory and binding conditions and associated reporting requirements are in place to ensure
adequate and effective policing. In order for Council to make the most informed decision, it is
imperative that the report prepared for Council consideration meets all associated requirements on
timelines, costs and implications for each condition.

As Minister of Public Safety, it is my responsibility to ensure that an adequate and effective level of
policing and law enforcement is maintained in Surrey, the region, and across the province. It is my
expectation that City staff be permitted to work with Ministry officials in ensuring that this
responsibility is met and in meeting your own obligations to provide policing outlined in the Police Act.

To this end, please confirm in writing that City staff will be permitted to maintain information sharing
with Ministry officials and that an advance copy of the Corporate Report will be provided to Ministry
officials in advance of its submission to Council.

Mike Farnworth
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
and Deputy Premier

pc: Mayor Brenda Locke

Councillor Linda Annis
Councillor Harry Bains
Councillor Mike Bose
Councillor Doug Elford
Councillor Gordon Hepner
Councillor Pardeep Kooner
Councillor Mandeep Nagra
Councillor Rob Stutt
City Manager Vincent Lalonde
Premier David Eby
Deputy Solicitor General Doug Scott

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Ministry of Office of the Minister Mailing Address:
Public Safety Parliament Buildings
and Solicitor General Victoria BC V8V 1X4