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I voted for Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum and his team, mostly to see the last of Surrey First. That does not mean I support his notion of a municipal police force. After all, there were no yes/no boxes on the ballot to learn voters’ opinions on that option.

Anyone who thinks that crime and gangs in Surrey will disappear by changing to a new police force is naïve. The RCMP have always provided dedicated service to the people of Surrey and comment to the contrary is both egregious and disrespectful. Only the people have the right to decide if the RCMP should be allowed to continue their service.

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Surrey should immediately initiate a referendum to decide the matter.

David Peelo, Surrey

Disappointing debate

Electoral-reform arguments used in the television debate between Premier John Horgan and B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson were disappointing.

Horgan said modern, proven alternatives will upgrade an ancient system. In fact, proportional representation and first past the post have both been used for centuries and are equally ancient. While promoted as used in 90 countries, two of three pro-rep systems offered in B.C.’s referendum have never been used anywhere. The third is used only in Bolivia, Germany, Lesotho and New Zealand.