The City of Surrey鈥檚 Statement of Financial Information for 2022 indicates $316,663.50 was paid by taxpayers to Peck and Company Barristers, the law firm that successfully defended former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum against a charge of public mischief in Surrey provincial court last year.
You鈥檒l find the line on page 110 of a by Surrey鈥� general manager of finance Kam Grewal that came before council for consideration on June 19, under Schedule of Payments for Provision of Goods and/or Services.
Leading up to McCallum鈥檚 trial, which got underway on Oct. 31, 2022, numerous residents and some rival council members slammed the former mayor鈥檚 legal bills being paid by taxpayers in accordance with the Surrey鈥檚 Officer and Indemnification By-Law.
Coun. Linda Annis issued a press release before the trial, in which she stated, 鈥淚t is ridiculous that the mayor gets to pick his attorney with no thought to the actual cost, and no accountability to the taxpayers who are paying the bill, regardless of the amount.鈥�
His legal team was comprised of Richard Peck 鈥� considered to be one of Canada鈥檚 top criminal defence lawyers 鈥� as well as Eric Gottardi and Lee Vandergust.
During her election campaign to replace McCallum as mayor, which she accomplished two weeks before his trial began, Brenda Locke vowed to make McCallum pay back every cent if she got elected. 鈥淲e are coming for you to repay every dime,鈥� Locke warned McCallum in a Now-Leader
But Locke confirmed Monday that this is not going to happen, on account of McCallum being found not guilty.
鈥淲ell, him getting acquitted changed everything and so I did check with our legal about what we could do and of course the fact that he is off, the judge determined that we was acquitted, we are where we are,鈥� she told the Now-Leader. 鈥淭here will be no ability for us to go after him for his legal costs.鈥�
The Now-Leader has reached out to McCallum for comment.
McCallum, 78, was charged with one count of public mischief contrary to Section 140(2) of the Criminal Code, stemming from an encounter on Sept. 4, 2021 between himself and a group of volunteers that was gathering petition signatures outside the South Point Save-On-Foods store in South Surrey for a referendum on the policing transition.
Judge Reginald Harris on Nov. 21, 2022 found McCallum not guilty.
Following, McCallum read out a short statement, at the courthouse entrance, in which he understandably said he was 鈥減leased with the decision,鈥� thanked his legal team for 鈥渢heir tremendous efforts in this case,鈥� and gave a 鈥渟pecial thanks鈥� to his family for their support and understanding. 鈥淚 appreciate also the sensitivity of the media in covering my case, and to the people of Surrey, I love you, I love all of you.鈥�
He did not take questions.
After a 13-year break from the mayor鈥檚 chair, which he occupied from 1996 to 2005, McCallum was sworn in on Nov. 5, 2018 for his fourth term as Surrey鈥檚 mayor, this time under the Safe Surrey Coalition banner. Locke, of Surrey Connect, defeated him for the mayor鈥檚 seat in the Oct. 15, 2022 election by 973 votes.
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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