Surrey Mayor Defends Policing Plan, Criticizes New Party Formed by Councillors

In an exclusive interview on Connect FM’s Sver Wala Show, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum criticized former councillors Jack Hundial and Brenda Locke for what he called a “flip-flop” on the city’s controversial policing transition.

McCallum told Connect News Team, at our studios, that both councillors previously supported replacing the RCMP with a municipal police force before the last municipal election but changed their position after being elected.

It’s very unusual to see elected officials reverse themselves so dramatically,” McCallum said. “It’s only natural that three councillors resigned given their new stance.

The dispute comes as Surrey continues its multi-year plan to replace the RCMP with the Surrey Police Service, one of the largest municipal policing transitions in Canadian history. The issue has dominated city council agendas and public hearings since 2019.

Critics of the transition argue costs could exceed original projections, while supporters say a municipal force would give the city greater control over policing priorities.

The new party formed by Locke and Hundial is expected to announce its platform later this year, setting the stage for what could be one of Surrey’s most divisive municipal elections in recent memory.