City of Surrey reaches RCMP pension agreement in move to local police force

The City of Surrey says it has cleared a major stumbling block on the road toimplementing its ownpolice force.

In a written statement emailed Wednesday, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallumsaid an agreement has been finalized between the Municipal Pension Plan and the Royal Canadian Mounted PolicePension Plan to allow RCMP officers to "fully transfer"theirpensions.

"Not only is this agreement a major milestone in the creation of our own city police department, but it,more importantly, answers a significant and legitimate concern expressed by RCMP members and their families about pension portability," wroteMcCallum.

The question of pension portability has beenwidely viewedas a major recruiting roadblock for citieswishing to create their own police force.

Richmond city council looked into setting up a municipal police force in 2015, but it was determined RCMP officers would not be able to transfer their pensions.

There are, as yet, few details on on how RCMP members would transfer their own plans. Thecity has not released specifics of the new agreement, but the statement said members who join the Surrey Police Department can incorporatetheir contributory and pensionable service into the municipal pension plan.

The CBC has reached out to Surrey's mayorfor more details.