SURREY, B.C. — B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has congratulated Doug McCallum on his election as Surrey mayor, pledging to work with the incoming mayor on healthcare, transit and housing affordability.
In a statement released Sunday, October 18, Eby also thanked outgoing Mayor Brenda Locke for her four years of service and congratulated the councillors and school trustees elected in Saturday’s municipal election.
Eby said he had spoken with McCallum on Sunday morning and was prepared to work with him on key priorities for Surrey.
“We’ve worked together before to get SkyTrain to Langley underway, and I’m ready to work with him again on the things Surrey needs,” Eby said.
Healthcare expansion a key priority
Eby highlighted healthcare infrastructure as one of the priorities for cooperation between the provincial government and Surrey’s incoming municipal leadership.
He said construction of the new hospital in Cloverdale is underway and noted the B.C. NDP’s commitment to working with the City of Surrey on another new healthcare facility, with the municipality offering land for the project.
Eby said he looked forward to working with McCallum to advance the proposal.
Eby signals openness to SkyTrain to Newton
Transit expansion was another key issue raised in Eby’s statement, with the premier expressing support for discussions about extending SkyTrain service to Newton.
“Newton is growing fast, and the people who live and work there deserve fast, reliable transit,” Eby said.
He said he was willing to meet with McCallum, Prime Minister Mark Carney, TransLink and the Mayors’ Council to discuss what would be required to advance the proposal.
The statement signals the possibility of further discussions among municipal, provincial and federal leaders about transit infrastructure for one of Surrey’s major communities. However, Eby did not announce a funding commitment or construction timeline for a SkyTrain extension to Newton.
Housing measures outlined
Eby also outlined housing-related measures the B.C. NDP has proposed, including a 30-day Small Builder Permit Guarantee, working with the federal government to lower development cost charges, and province-wide standardized technical code and permit application requirements for small residential construction.
According to Eby, the measures are intended to reduce costs for homebuilders and help deliver more homes for Surrey families sooner.
The proposals were presented as commitments of a re-elected B.C. NDP government.
Eby emphasizes cooperation after election
Eby concluded his statement by saying Surrey residents had asked for results and that his government would work with the mayor-elect to deliver on the city’s priorities.
The election of McCallum sets the stage for a new working relationship between Surrey’s municipal leadership and the provincial government, with healthcare, housing and transit expected to feature prominently in discussions.
While Eby has expressed a willingness to cooperate on these issues, further details on project timelines, funding arrangements and implementation will depend on subsequent discussions and decisions by the governments and agencies involved.
StudioX News Canada will continue to follow developments involving Surrey’s incoming mayor and the provincial government.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
