Darlene Bennett is undaunted by Elections BC91裸聊视频檚 announcement Tuesday that her initiative petition calling for a referendum on Surrey91裸聊视频檚 policing transition has failed.

91裸聊视频淚t think it91裸聊视频檚 a clear voice for Surrey, Surrey wants a referendum and we91裸聊视频檒l keep the pressure on the provincial government because they still have the ability to call for one,91裸聊视频� she told the Now-Leader. It91裸聊视频檚 not a provincial 91裸聊视频減roblem91裸聊视频� but a regional one, she said, adding she was expecting this outcome but the fight is not over.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e asking for a referendum only for Surrey.91裸聊视频� She said she91裸聊视频檚 not disappointed.

All told, 42,942 signatures were delivered to Elections BC in Victoria on Monday. That91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渇ailure91裸聊视频� of the petition 91裸聊视频渋t is clearly time to move on.

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� he said in his written statement.

Elections BC91裸聊视频檚 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 province91裸聊视频檚 87 electoral districts to succeed.

91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� Elections BC91裸聊视频檚 statement reads.

Bennett said it was always her campaign91裸聊视频檚 intention to collect signatures in Surrey.

91裸聊视频淵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,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 still in play, it91裸聊视频檚 still a win and this is a clear message to the provincial government that the residents of Surrey want a referendum.91裸聊视频�

Campaign strategist Bill Tieleman said as far as the campaign for a referendum in Surrey is concerned, it91裸聊视频檚 still 91裸聊视频渢otally game on.91裸聊视频� Cabinet, he noted, could make a decision 91裸聊视频渢oday, tomorrow, a week before Christmas,91裸聊视频� and proceed with a referendum in Surrey. 91裸聊视频淚t doesn91裸聊视频檛 end the issue at all.91裸聊视频�

Tieleman said the campaign team will be making public and private 91裸聊视频渞epresentations91裸聊视频� to the provincial government and will meet later this week to discuss what the future holds for their cause. 91裸聊视频淧eople want a vote,91裸聊视频� he noted. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think there91裸聊视频檚 any reason we should stop this campaign at this stage because we don91裸聊视频檛 have a referendum yet. And if we don91裸聊视频檛 get a referendum I think the municipal election will be the referendum, next year.91裸聊视频�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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