Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has not yet revealed her next course of action after the recent announcement that the city will proceed with the establishment of the Surrey Police Service (SPS). Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth directed the city to continue the transition from the Surrey RCMP to the SPS, in accordance with section 2 of the Police Act, which mandates the Ministry of Public Safety to ensure adequate and effective law enforcement throughout the province.
Despite this directive, lawyer Kyla Lee suggests that Mayor Locke still has options. Lee explains that a judicial review can be initiated in the B.C. Supreme Court to determine if the decision to approve the SPS over the RCMP was reasonable. While the Police Act grants significant decision-making power to the minister, it also allows for the review of decisions made under its provisions.