In Surrey, Thomas Mulcair promises more cops, if elected

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair chose Surrey, which has suffered a recent spate of gun violence, to announce on Wednesday a spending program that would put 2,500 additional police officers onto Canada’s streets.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is promising to create 110,000 child-care spaces in B.C., where Vancouver parents pay some of the highest fees in the country. This would be followed up with $100 million a year in permanent funding, he told a crowd of more than 100 supporters at the Comfort Inn and Suites.

He says the money would replace a similar fund that was axed under the Conservative’s watch.

Mulcair is campaigning in B.C. today, where days ago a raging blaze tore through the province’s Interior, destroying dozens of homes and forcing hundreds to flee at a moment’s notice.

Top of mind for many Island voters is energy giant Kinder Morgan’s $5.4-billion proposal to twin a pipeline carrying bitumen from Edmonton to Metro Vancouver, which would increase tanker traffic in the area from five to 34.

“That’s an excellent idea”, said Trudeau.

But the Police Officer Recruitment Program was actually a Conservative initiative introduced in 2008.

Both the Canadian Police Association and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities commended the NDP’s announcement.

He said the number of police officers has been declining in Canada each year between 2010 and 2014.

It’s uncharacteristic for an ex-cop to run for a left-leaning party, typically finding more common ground with their right-of-centre alternatives.

Mulcair said the government has failed to deliver on the promise.

Mulcair also addressed recently revealed comments he made while a provincial politician in the Quebec legislature.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has consistently resisted calls for reform on marijuana laws. “It’s not surprising that I’m in favour of the things that work”.

“That hasn’t changed and that’s what that statement was about, making sure that the public gets the best services possible”.