THE NDP noted on Monday that after years of recognizing the legal authority of municipalities like Surrey to choose their own police force, B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson appeared to flip-flop on Sunday by promising to impose a referendum on the issue. 

Less than 24 hours later, he has said that the referendum could be “advisory” instead of binding – and he won’t determine that until after the election.

Journalist Mike Smyth: “How would this referendum work? Would this be a binding referendum?”

Wilkinson: “That can be sorted out as we get closer to it, whether it’s advisory or binding. Section one of the Referendum Act provides for quite a range of choices there.” (CKNW, Oct 5, 2020)

“Why is Wilkinson hedging?” asked the NDP.

The Police Act gives municipalities with more than 5,000 people responsibility for providing law enforcement in their community. The BC Liberals have consistently acknowledged this authority, including in recent weeks:

Stephanie Cadieux and Tracy Redies: “We respect that this is by statute, a municipal decision to move forward.” (July 6, 2020)

The NDP said that Wilkinson knows that this is a municipal decision. “His desperate flip flopping shows that people can’t trust anything he says about the Surrey police,” it added.