With the 2022 Municipal Election around the corner for the City of Surrey, voters are fully in the zone to analyze and assess who will best make their voices heard in City Hall and beyond. Campaigning is in full swing with five candidates promising to deliver on tackling Surrey’s issues, among which housing, property taxes, and crime top the list of concerns for Metro Vancouver voters. With only 28% of Surrey voters satisfied with the current Council, the stakes are high. Amidst the election buzz, DARPAN chats with the five faces of the five-way Surrey mayoral race:
Brenda Locke
1. What makes you an ideal candidate?
I have a vision for Surrey, I have recent experience with City’s operations and I will manage taxpayer dollars efficiently. Surrey means everything to me. It’s where I have spent decades of my life, raised my family, and served my community. My qualifications include: (a) council for 4 years, (b) provincial cabinet minister, (c) ethical, creative, and focussed, (d) deep understanding of the issues Surrey faces, and (e) experience with large budgets and teams.
- In your opinion, what is/are Surrey's greatest strength(s)?
Where else can you find agriculture, highways, ports, border crossings, urban centers, small business, big business, post-secondary institutions, retail, restaurants, the most parks per capita, and, and the most diverse group of residents. We have a strong youth community. We have a ‘get it done’ culture. We are generous, compassionate, and welcoming. We certainly saw that during COVID as it was residents that helped to feed those in need, without fanfare and without government grants.
- What is/are the most pressing issue(s) for Surrey's communities and how do you plan to address it/them?
Ethics, transportation, public safety and infrastructure are the most pressing issues. As mayor, I will: (a) request recall legislation at the Municipal level, (b) rewrite the bylaws for the Ethics Commissioner to make the position more robust and transparent, (c) train the new Council on ethics, conflict of interest, good governance, (d) bring in whistle-blower bylaws for both the public and staff, and (e) improve the Surrey Lobby Registry bylaws. For transportation, we need new rapid transit stops on current lines, new lines, and more busses. Affordability around the world’s major centers has also been an issue. Further, Surrey Connect is the only party that is crystal clear on public safety. This Mayor has dropped the ball on working with the different levels of government to properly fund our growing city. I know how to get that done. This will be a priority for Surrey Connect at City Hall.
- How do you plan to involve Surrey's residents in decision making processes?
First of all, I believe in servant leadership, which requires that I include residents in the process. I will have public consultation with the members of the public on a regular and issue basis when required. The public will be welcome to apply to be a delegation at each council meeting. The public will be able to ask questions of staff during public hearings and council will be permitted to get clarity from the presenters. Council will take the budget consultation to the various town centers. These meetings will be listened to by a delegation of the council and staff similar to the provincial budget consultation process. We will also hold annual town halls in Surrey's Town Centers.
- What is your vision for the future of Surrey?
Surrey will be the next modern city in Canada. To build a city that is people-centered. It is important that we build the kind of housing that people can call home and that we take the living environment seriously and respect the climate crisis issues. Surrey will be a model City in Canada and the world in terms of livability and economic prosperity. We are situated in one of the most desirable locations in the Pacific Northwest. Surrey is a place of opportunity for business and a city where everyone matters.
Doug McCallum
- What makes you an ideal candidate?
Since the last election, I have been able to fulfill my promises to the people of Surrey in terms of the Sky Train to Fleetwood, Clayton Heights and Langley, Smart Development, creating our own Surrey Police Service and delivering on 21 infrastructure projects.
- In your opinion, what is/are Surrey's greatest strength(s)?
Surrey's strengths are embedded in it's rich cultural, environmental and economic diversity. Our unique land mass lends itself to these strengths as 1/3 of our land is agricultural, 1/3 green space and 1/3 remaining for housing, roads and physical amenities such as restaurants and recreation facilities. It is quickly becoming the fastest-growing and most multicultural city in Canada. Surrey is a big city now and as we look to the future, we can leverage the strengths that we have, to become one of the best cities in the world to live, work and play in.
- What is/are the most pressing issue(s) for Surrey's communities and how do you plan to address it/them?
I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time among the citizens of Surrey and as a result, I have an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the issues and challenges in Surrey. Surrey is a fast growing, multicultural urban centre and in order to support the dramatic growth our city is experiencing because many families want to move to Surrey, we need to continue to expand our aggressive infrastructure and capital project plans. Providing a wide variety of housing types, ensuring we reach net zero by 2030 not 2050 and solidfying our Surrey Police so they can address drugs and gang violence to ensure a safer city are among our top concerns here in Surrey.
- How do you plan to involve Surrey's residents in decision making processes?
The most effective way that I have found to involve Surrey residents in the decision making processes outside of our city's more formal public engagement processes is to be among the people at events, out walking, during speaking engagements, watching my grandchildren at their sporting events and listen to what they say to me, hear their concerns, their advice and their encouragement. I collect all of their input and synthesize this into a vision for our great city of Surrey that is propelling us in strength toward a very bright and successful future.
- What is your vision for the future of Surrey?
I envision that Surrey is on it's way to achieving world class status as a city and it is seen as a highly sought after city for people to relocate to where they can realize all of their dreams; whether they are starting a family or downsizing. Surrey, because of its unique land allocations, remains one of the rare areas with immense potential for growth. Our team wants to help realize this potential by being a proactive and action oriented local government that steward the vast resources of the city and strategically design its infrastructure for today and looking 20 years into the future.
Gordie Hogg
- What makes you an ideal candidate?
An ideal candide someone who has demonstrated experience in listening and learning, taken value-based actions based on citizens of Surrey, and recognized that the responsibility of an elected person is to report to citizens while keeping the interests of the majority in mind. I was an MLA for 20 years and have been Mayor of White Rock MP. Moreover, my wife and I have been foster parents. I have also been a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University, and have worked as a consultant with many non-profit organizations.
- In your opinion, what is/are Surrey's greatest strength(s)?
We are the face of Canada. We embody multiculturalism, pluralism, diversity, inclusivity, and equality - all of which are reflected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We will be known not as Metro Vancouver in the future, but as Metro Surrey. As the leading city in Canada, we’ve got more land then Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond combined, complemented by strong agriculture.
- What is/are the most pressing issue(s) for Surrey's communities and how do you plan to address it/them?
I continue to hear issues on public safety, housing, and transportation. Public safety especially continues to come as an issue from everyone. I have experience as a probation officer and hold a phD in the field of Criminology. As such, I recognize that public safety is certainly one of the most important issues. We, as a community, need to recognize that a lot of crime committed is rooted in drug issues. To combat, we have to focus on initiatives such as policing, deterrence, and dealing with hot spots.
- How do you plan to involve Surrey's residents in decision making processes?
I plan to keep the City Hall accessible, including keeping it open late or on alternative days for people who are working during the day. Meetings should be help around the city, in different recreation centers so that we can meet different people. While the current Council has cut out of a lot of committees, I plan to have a number of advisory committees.
- What is your vision for the future of Surrey?
My vision is that we will be the face of Canada, and eventually the face of the world. We speak over 100 different languages and engage people in different ways. In the future, the face of the world will be very similar and we will be there first, with so many different cultures represented and citizens who learn from each other. We spend too much time talking about differences. Around the world, in my experience, people care about the same thing at the end of the day.
Jinny Sims
- What makes you an ideal candidate?
I am a strong advocate and a strong voice. I know how to bring people together and I know how to fight for what Surrey needs. I also know how to work with people across communities and bring everybody together. It is not always about saying things, but about having a skillset to work with larger communities and other levels of governments, including the federal government and as well as First Nations. I want to make people full participants in the city. I have been an MLA, MP, mother, teacher, and President of the BC Teachers' Federation. Having had many roles, I want to build a city that works for everyone. Overall, you have to include people, but also have the courage to take hard decisions.
- In your opinion, what is/are Surrey's greatest strength(s)?
Surrey’s greatest strength is its diversity. Surrey has a very rich talent pool that is unmatched. This talent pool is a very strong engine for economic growth for Surrey. The most important thing needed is to have people who choose to live and contribute to Surrey. We have rich talent and diversity is our economic engine, driven by the disporas that live here. As such, we have enough diversity to build an economy that will thrive. Over the last few years, there has not be a focus on growing good paying jobs or making sure we bring in more jobs in the manufacturing and tech sectors. There has been so much fighting in Council that they have failed to focus on economic growth. We have a young population, which is our strength. I have the capacity and ability to work with diversity.
- What is/are the most pressing issue(s) for Surrey's communities and how do you plan to address it/them?
The biggest issue is around affordability. This is a very fast growing city where we do have developments, but we need more housing. Housing gets in the way of attracting new talent into the city as well. City Hall is jam logged. People feel that there is not a fair process in place. We need to create more housing quickly, work with the provincial government to put money into it, and shine light on other affordability issues like public transit. The current Council is fighting with each other instead of investing in Surrey’s infrastructure in a meaningful way. Even childcare is not affordable, with half of people’s income going to into childcare. Further, safety and security is also something every community wants, but we live in fear when our children are out. I will have integrity restored to City Hall and the mayor's office, alongside public engagement.
- How do you plan to involve Surrey's residents in decision making processes?
I will make Council meetings more open and accountable. There are currently no public discussions, even for major projects. This is not fair to the public. If decisions are made behind closed doors, that is not democracy. I will reconstitute the existing committee and possibly create extra committees to involve people. Right now, committee members don’t want to listen to evidence. There are certain things they have been told to ignore. There has been too much political interference. Although political oversight is always important, interfering in a way that favors one side over the other is not fair. As part of my presidency with BCTF, I garnered experience dealing with huge budgets and working with a huge staff. I have taken difficult positions in my political careers, but there was not the personalization and nastiness that I see now. We need a City Council with a different tone.
- What is your vision for the future of Surrey?
My vision for the future of surrey we have our six city centers, and that they are linked with public transit with main routes and maybe smaller ones as well. We treat people fairly, we are open for business, and people feel welcome and included. We use our talent and our diversity to grow the IT sector, entrepreneurs, and small and medium businesses. This city is going to be the largest city in BC in a very short time. We have the potential to attract the IT sector and the manufacturing sector. We’ve got the room and talent, alongside the capacity to build affordable housing. In the future, I envision that we are a city with affordable childcare. The police service is happy to be working here. Nurses and healthcare workers live here and they do not feel priced out. We provide all this and the opportunity for people to grow families in a safe and secure environment, thriving with parks, recreation centers, and strong communities.
Sukh Dhaliwal
- What makes you an ideal candidate?
I don’t know if there’s such thing as an ideal candidate but I have always prided myself on being in politics for the right reasons. I see public office as serving people and helping solve problems. I have never cared much about playing political games or trying to look important. I think Surrey is at the point where people are tired of all the political theatre and are looking for a Mayor and Council who focus on getting things done and are there to serve the citizens.
- In your opinion, what is/are Surrey's greatest strength(s)?
Surrey’s greatest strength is honestly it’s diverse and people. Our city continues to attract highly skilled and talented people from around the region, country and world who come here to build a life. Surrey residents have a pride in our city that I feel every day. Regardless of whether you grew up here or came from somewhere else there is a confidence in Surrey’s future and a feeling that we live in a special place.
- What is/are the most pressing issue(s) for Surrey's communities and how do you plan to address it/them?
There are a number of issues that the next government will have to address. Many of them stem from rapid growth and the need for infrastructure to support it. That is why I am proposing a historic investment in parks, playing fields and recreation facilities that will provide a healthy and positive option for are youth. I also think that people are concerned about affordability and housing. That is why I’m proposing a one year freeze on property taxes and providing additional resources to ensure that our building approval process is the most efficient in the region.
- How do you plan to involve Surrey's residents in decision making processes?
Residents need to feel that their city government is open to them and accessible to all. There is a sense that there is special access to a handful of people who are politically connected and that will end if I and my team are elected. One of the ways to involve citizens is to let them report on urgent priorities in real time. That is the idea behind my proposal to have an app where citizens can report potholes, burnt out street lights, broken benches or playground equipment or overflowing trash bins and the city will commit to following up within 24 hours. This has been done in communities like Port Coquitlam and has been very successful.
- What is your vision for the future of Surrey?
My vision for Surrey is to continue to build a city that is home to a dynamic and diverse population and a city where there is opportunity for all so that future generations can continue to call Surrey home.
As each candidate assures the public that they are the need of the hour, the decision eventually lies in the hands of Surrey’s voters. Though strong skillsets may seem to be coming forth from all five directions, the assertion of promises will not suffice to emerge victorious. A combination of strategy, political foothold, and an action-oriented, problem-solving mindset is needed. As such, only time will tell who sits in the chair of the Mayor in City Hall this fall.
