Darlene Bennett is undaunted by Elections BC害羞草研究所檚 announcement Tuesday that her initiative petition calling for a referendum on Surrey害羞草研究所檚 policing transition has failed.

害羞草研究所淚t think it害羞草研究所檚 a clear voice for Surrey, Surrey wants a referendum and we害羞草研究所檒l keep the pressure on the provincial government because they still have the ability to call for one,害羞草研究所� she told the Now-Leader. It害羞草研究所檚 not a provincial 害羞草研究所減roblem害羞草研究所� but a regional one, she said, adding she was expecting this outcome but the fight is not over.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e asking for a referendum only for Surrey.害羞草研究所� She said she害羞草研究所檚 not disappointed.

All told, 42,942 signatures were delivered to Elections BC in Victoria on Monday. That害羞草研究所檚 just 2,622 shy of the 45,564 votes Mayor Doug McCallum, champion of the controversial policing switchover, received in the 2018 civic election.

McCallum issued a statement Tuesday that since Elections BC announced the 害羞草研究所渇ailure害羞草研究所� of the petition 害羞草研究所渋t is clearly time to move on.

害羞草研究所淭he work of the Surrey Police Service has remained focused on the task at hand for a safe and smooth transition. Surrey Police will take another significant step forward when the first SPS officers hit the streets alongside Surrey RCMP members by the end of the month,害羞草研究所� he said in his written statement.

Elections BC害羞草研究所檚 statement notes that under the Recall and Initiative Act a petition must gather signatures from at least 10 per cent of the registered voters in each of the province害羞草研究所檚 87 electoral districts to succeed.

害羞草研究所淚t was clear upon submission that the petition did not receive the required number of signatures in each electoral district. As a result, Elections BC will not be counting or validating any of the signatures submitted,害羞草研究所� Elections BC害羞草研究所檚 statement reads.

Bennett said it was always her campaign害羞草研究所檚 intention to collect signatures in Surrey.

害羞草研究所淵ou know, 42,942 signatures during a global pandemic, crazy weather systems and you know, the interference with the mayor, this is huge. People are mad and they want a voice in this,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 still in play, it害羞草研究所檚 still a win and this is a clear message to the provincial government that the residents of Surrey want a referendum.害羞草研究所�

Campaign strategist Bill Tieleman said as far as the campaign for a referendum in Surrey is concerned, it害羞草研究所檚 still 害羞草研究所渢otally game on.害羞草研究所� Cabinet, he noted, could make a decision 害羞草研究所渢oday, tomorrow, a week before Christmas,害羞草研究所� and proceed with a referendum in Surrey. 害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 end the issue at all.害羞草研究所�

Tieleman said the campaign team will be making public and private 害羞草研究所渞epresentations害羞草研究所� to the provincial government and will meet later this week to discuss what the future holds for their cause. 害羞草研究所淧eople want a vote,害羞草研究所� he noted. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think there害羞草研究所檚 any reason we should stop this campaign at this stage because we don害羞草研究所檛 have a referendum yet. And if we don害羞草研究所檛 get a referendum I think the municipal election will be the referendum, next year.害羞草研究所�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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