Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said in a canned statement that this year91裸聊视频檚 Surrey Canada Day celebration was 91裸聊视频渁 phenomenal showcase of national pride.91裸聊视频�

But behind the scenes, it91裸聊视频檚 alleged, there was effort made to keep Surrey MP Sukh Dhaliwal 91裸聊视频� who has not yet confirmed his intention to run for mayor 91裸聊视频� 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 city91裸聊视频檚 communications department also stated in emails he 91裸聊视频渨ill not be commenting91裸聊视频� and, 91裸聊视频淭he City will not be commenting.91裸聊视频�

Dhaliwal, meantime, said Tuesday he91裸聊视频檚 in the process of writing to City Manager Vincent Lalonde in an attempt 91裸聊视频渢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.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭he attempts by the city to prevent me from participating in Canada Day was deeply disappointing,91裸聊视频� Dhaliwal, Liberal MP for Surrey-Newton, told the Now-Leader. 91裸聊视频淐anada Day is a celebration of our great country and not a time to play petty political games. We should expect better.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频淪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.91裸聊视频�

Edwards declined to comment beyond this statement.

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

91裸聊视频淲hen I first heard it I thought no, it91裸聊视频檚 not true,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淪pecifically I checked on the RCMP,91裸聊视频� Annis said.

91裸聊视频淎pparently,91裸聊视频� she said, 91裸聊视频渟taff that were there didn91裸聊视频檛 have them included as part of the procession and I found that absolutely shocking.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淐ertainly as long as I91裸聊视频檝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 weren91裸聊视频檛.91裸聊视频�

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

The alleged exclusion, Annis said, 91裸聊视频渨as I think a very disrespectful thing.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 have no idea where the instructions came from. I91裸聊视频檓 certain it wasn91裸聊视频檛 the staff that were on site making that sort of decision. I don91裸聊视频檛 know if it was political or it91裸聊视频檚 just the underlying culture that91裸聊视频檚 taking place in the city over the police transition or what it is, but it91裸聊视频檚 an embarrassment, I don91裸聊视频檛 know what else to say.91裸聊视频�

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

Mary Rukavina, Surrey91裸聊视频檚 manager of special events & filming, parks, recreation and culture has not yet returned requests for comment.

Dhaliwal said every MP got a related package, 91裸聊视频渁 badge or something.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 was the only one who that did not get that package,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚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.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 am an elected Member of Parliament,91裸聊视频� he stressed.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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