Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said in a canned statement that this year害羞草研究所檚 Surrey Canada Day celebration was 害羞草研究所渁 phenomenal showcase of national pride.害羞草研究所�

But behind the scenes, it害羞草研究所檚 alleged, there was effort made to keep Surrey MP Sukh Dhaliwal 害羞草研究所� who has not yet confirmed his intention to run for mayor 害羞草研究所� and Surrey Mounties in red serge from joining the mayor on stage at the Bill Reid Amphitheatre on July 1.

McCallum did not return a phone request for comment on Tuesday. The city害羞草研究所檚 communications department also stated in emails he 害羞草研究所渨ill not be commenting害羞草研究所� and, 害羞草研究所淭he City will not be commenting.害羞草研究所�

Dhaliwal, meantime, said Tuesday he害羞草研究所檚 in the process of writing to City Manager Vincent Lalonde in an attempt 害羞草研究所渢o find out who gave the instruction to the staff and why would it happen. This was the first time I have ever seen something like this happen. This is the first time ever.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he attempts by the city to prevent me from participating in Canada Day was deeply disappointing,害羞草研究所� Dhaliwal, Liberal MP for Surrey-Newton, told the Now-Leader. 害羞草研究所淐anada Day is a celebration of our great country and not a time to play petty political games. We should expect better.害羞草研究所�

Lalonde has not yet returned a request for comment.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP, told the Now-Leader on Tuesday that the 害羞草研究所淪urrey RCMP received a last minute request for our officers in Red Serge not to march in the Canada Day civic procession. That request to remove officers from the procession was absolutely dismissed. Our officers proudly marched in the procession - a long-held tradition in our community. We remain honoured to participate in the Cloverdale event each year.害羞草研究所�

Edwards declined to comment beyond this statement.

Coun. Linda Annis, of Surrey First, weighed in.

害羞草研究所淲hen I first heard it I thought no, it害羞草研究所檚 not true,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 did check in with staff at city hall and I also checked in with the RCMP and unfortunately, and I hate to say sadly, but it was true.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪pecifically I checked on the RCMP,害羞草研究所� Annis said.

害羞草研究所淎pparently,害羞草研究所� she said, 害羞草研究所渟taff that were there didn害羞草研究所檛 have them included as part of the procession and I found that absolutely shocking.害羞草研究所�

Traditionally there is a mustering station away from the stage from which the civic, provincial and federal-level politicians along with other dignitaries and the RCMP proceed to the stage where speeches are made.

害羞草研究所淐ertainly as long as I害羞草研究所檝e been a councillor the RCMP have always been included and they come in their red serge and march with us and this time they were just omitted from the procession and when they arrived thinking of course that they were part of it they were told no, they weren害羞草研究所檛.害羞草研究所�

Ultimately, the Mounties and Dhaliwal got up on the platform anyway, stage right and left.

The alleged exclusion, Annis said, 害羞草研究所渨as I think a very disrespectful thing.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 have no idea where the instructions came from. I害羞草研究所檓 certain it wasn害羞草研究所檛 the staff that were on site making that sort of decision. I don害羞草研究所檛 know if it was political or it害羞草研究所檚 just the underlying culture that害羞草研究所檚 taking place in the city over the police transition or what it is, but it害羞草研究所檚 an embarrassment, I don害羞草研究所檛 know what else to say.害羞草研究所�

The city is in the process of replacing the Surrey RCMP with the Surrey Police Service.

Mary Rukavina, Surrey害羞草研究所檚 manager of special events & filming, parks, recreation and culture has not yet returned requests for comment.

Dhaliwal said every MP got a related package, 害羞草研究所渁 badge or something.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 was the only one who that did not get that package,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t is my understanding that in fact instructions were given to the bylaw by the co-ordinator of events not to let Sukh Dhaliwal on the stage.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 am an elected Member of Parliament,害羞草研究所� he stressed.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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