Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum faces 5 Years Prison, Ban to Contest

Seattle WA

15 October, 2021

11:43 AM

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Surrey Coun. Jack Hundial says McCallum should step down. “Well, I think it’s very obvious. I think any elected official who faces the scrutiny of not telling the truth does need to step down and re-evaluate why they are still in public office because the public trust is a huge piece,” he says. “People expect and demand that their politicians are not out there lying.” Surrey RCMP Detachment is investigation Mayor Doug McCallum statement on an incident on Sep.4th, in the parking lot of Save On Foods, on 152nd, Surrey. Special Prosecutor Richard Fowler is leading the investigation under Section 140 (2) of the Criminal Code, Public Mischief is a Crown indictable offence carrying a sentence of 6 months or five years by indictment. Former Mayor Dianne Watts, Linda Hepner have still to comment, Mayoral Candidates Tom Gill, Barinder Rasode and Vikram Bajwa are awaited to issue statements, after obtaining the RCMP Charge Sheet, leading to this Investigation. The investigation into the incident at the Save On Foods in September is being overseen by a special prosecutor “in light of the nature of the allegations, the Mayor’s position as a public official in a senior position of authority, and the ongoing public discussion about the change from the RCMP to a municipal police force in Surrey.” On Thursday, McCallum was reportedly at city hall in his office on the sixth floor. He refused to comment after multiple, persistent requests to his media team. Instead, a statement was sent by email. “The Mayor will not be commenting,” it read. Coun. Brenda Locke said the mayor’s unavailability has been an ongoing issue. “I can’t predict or judge what the mayor is going to do in terms of his media availability. Certainly, that has been a challenge in the past. And so we’re seeing that probably today.” RELATED: Critics of Surrey Police Force get go-ahead to try to get referendum Surrey is currently in the process of transitioning from the RCMP to a municipal force – a move that was a key part of McCallum’s election campaign and which continues to divide the community and city council. Both Hundial and Locke oppose replacing the RCMP, and continue to demand a halt to the transition saying the move is opposed by the majority of residents, lacks transparency, and is too expensive.