NDP said it welcomes the approval after the party pushed for the additional officers in the House of Commons, but calls on the Conservatives to provide clear timelines for when officers will arrive and when boots will be on the ground in Surrey.
SURREY – The federal government has approved Surrey’s request for 100 additional Mounties but the federal NDP wants clearer timelines when the officers will hit the pavements and begin fighting crime in Surrey.
NDP said it welcomes the approval after the party pushed for the additional officers in the House of Commons, but calls on the Conservatives to provide clear timelines for when officers will arrive and when boots will be on the ground in Surrey.
“Unfortunately it took a crisis to compel the Conservatives to react to the situation in Surrey. We are glad the Conservatives have folded to NDP pressure to help the people of Surrey, but it is not enough,” said NDP MP Jinny Sims (Newton—North Delta). “They need to show a real commitment and help the people of Surrey today. People are scared and the community is devastated.”
Following Tuesday’s press conference hosted by Conservative MP Nina Grewal and Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the NDP is calling on the Conservative government to stop playing politics and to provide a clear timeline for the implementation of the 100 allocated RCMP officers and funding for Surrey.
“Conservatives must stop playing partisan political games with public safety and start protecting the public in Surrey. We need a clear timeline as to when the funding and 100 RCMP officers will be on the ground in Surrey,” said NDP MP Jasbir Sandhu. “The Minister said it herself; she doesn’t know when the aid will come. Six months? One year? Three years? They are again failing to deliver in the safety of the people of Surrey. Surrey needs help now.”
Both Sims and Sandhu are co-sponsoring motions before the House of Commons related to crime in Surrey. Sandhu’s motion asks for increased and ongoing funding for gang prevention and Sims’ motion is for more RCMP officers in the Surrey area.
The government earlier pledged to provide $3.5 million to preventative anti-gang programs in the city over the next five years.
The funding will support up to 400 children and teens between the ages of 11 to 19 who may be vulnerable to joining a gang.
This comes after more than two dozen shootings in Surrey and Delta since March.
Police have stepped up enforcement and taken the unusual step of identifying targeted victims in several of the shootings, which they believe have been sparked by clashes between two groups.
In April, Premier Christy Clark was also in Surrey to promise more money for an anti-gang initiative that aims to prevent schoolchildren from joining gangs and she urged the federal government to match the funds.
“We are all very concerned about the recent escalation of gang-related violence in Surrey,” Minister of National Revenue Findlay told reporters Tuesday.
“We are confident these programs will reduce the crime and violence the youth of Surrey are vulnerable to.”
The deployment falls short of the 130 officers requested by B.C.’s premier and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner.
Findlay wouldn’t provide a timeline of when the officers would start, but did say it was a “high priority” of the federal government to get boots on the ground as soon as possible.
“We know this is a real community concern,” said Findlay.
“There is a process between governments that’s being worked out now. The important thing is there’s a commitment.”
