Surrey party calls for recall legislation

A political party in Surrey is calling on the B.C. government to introduce legislation that would allow citizens to try to remove municipal politicians.

The Safe Surrey Coalition says it’s making the request because residents deserve to hold political opponent Mayor Brenda Locke to account, claiming her leadership has been called into question.

“If residents ever feel that their elected officials are not doing what they’re supposed to do — which is to work for the safety and security of the community, to safely and wisely use tax money — then they should have the right to start the petition to recall the elected officials,” said Councillor Mandeep Nagra.

Locke is currently involved in a feud with the province over policing after the B.C. government ordered the city to continue its transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service. Locke, who ran on a promise to keep the RCMP, is challenging that decision in court.

“This is just more of the distractions that they’re trying to do right now,” she said. “It’s interesting they never brought it up before when the previous mayor was charged; they didn’t think it was appropriate then.”

While there is a process for B.C. residents to try to remove a provincial politician, there isn’t one when it comes to municipal politicians. There have been calls to change this over the years, particularly whenever a civic politician has faced criminal charges or controversy. But in a statement, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs says, in part: “Recall legislation for local governments is not being considered at this time.”

“I understand and can sympathize why, you know, some councillors and perhaps member of the public would want something like that,” said Mike Farnworth, B.C. Solicitor General. “It’s not something that would be easily decided upon… and it would have to be in a future government.”

Nagra says they know it’s not an easy ask but adds residents have asked his party for it.

“They wanted us to start this process, they wanted us to start this discussion with the provincial government, and that it why we sent the letter to the provincial government,” Nagra said.