The BC NDP candidate points to her record in government and community advocacy, while taking aim at Brian Tepper and the BC Conservatives on healthcare, education, public safety and multiculturalism.
SURREY, B.C. — BC NDP candidate Jinny Sims is making the case for a return to Victoria by telling Surrey-Panorama voters that she would bring experience, energy and what she describes as a willingness to fight for the riding.
In an interview with StudioX News, Sims reflected on her previous political career, her time working in radio, and the issues she says are most important to Surrey residents, including affordability, healthcare, public safety and education.
She also directly addressed her current opponent, BC Conservative MLA Brian Tepper, arguing that Surrey-Panorama needs an MLA who will actively advocate for the community and bring people together.
Sims said her reason for running again is rooted in what she believes is at stake for Surrey and British Columbia.
“I have a proven track record,” Sims said, describing herself as an activist and a fighter.
She pointed to her experience as a teacher and former teachers’ union president, saying she learned early in her career to stand up for students, teachers and their learning conditions.
She said that approach continued throughout her political career as an MLA, minister and Member of Parliament.
“I have been a strong voice for Surrey and a strong voice for British Columbia,” Sims said.
Sims points to education and healthcare investments
A major part of Sims’ case to voters is her argument that Surrey has undergone significant growth and investment over the past decade.
She pointed to school construction and expansions across Surrey, saying more than 16,000 school spaces have been built.
In Surrey-Panorama specifically, Sims highlighted expansions at elementary schools, a new elementary school and major expansions at two high schools.
Healthcare was another major part of her argument.
Sims pointed to the construction of a new hospital in Surrey, expanded healthcare services, additional doctors and the creation of a new medical school.
She said these investments demonstrate the importance of having MLAs who advocate strongly for their communities.
Sims claimed Surrey has received more than $12 billion in infrastructure investments, although that figure was presented as part of her campaign argument and was not independently verified in the interview.
Her broader message was straightforward: she believes her political experience gives her the ability to push for major investments in Surrey.
“I’m not going to go to the Legislature to sit there,” Sims said. “I go there to fight for you.”
Radio career gave Sims another perspective on Surrey
Since the last election, Sims has also spent time working in broadcasting and hosting radio.
She said the experience allowed her to hear directly from residents and understand issues from perspectives beyond political organizations.
Sims said she made a conscious effort to keep her broadcasting work non-partisan.
“You can’t change your politics, but the way you do your work,” she said.
She said people from different political backgrounds appeared on her program and that she tried to ensure they received balanced treatment.
Sims also said the radio experience brought her into closer contact with Surrey residents during some of the city’s most difficult periods.
She specifically discussed the extortion crisis that affected the community and said her own studio was targeted.
According to Sims, the response required cooperation among provincial and municipal governments, police, federal agencies and the community.
She said the experience reinforced her belief that elected officials need to listen to residents and respond when communities are under pressure.
Sims says teaching background shapes her approach to politics
Sims was also asked about the challenge of moving from broadcaster back to political candidate.
She said her experience as a teacher has helped her maintain a distinction between explaining political issues and promoting a political ideology.
As a teacher, Sims said she was responsible for explaining the political spectrum to students without attempting to impose one particular ideology.
She said she brought the same approach into broadcasting.
“I can’t take the teaching out of me,” she said.
Sims said her role on radio was often to explain how government and the legislature worked and help listeners understand political developments.
Now that she is campaigning again, she said voters should expect the same directness.
“You will see the same frank and honest words from me that I used when I was a broadcaster,” Sims said.
Affordability requires multiple solutions, Sims says
On affordability, Sims rejected the idea that there is one policy capable of solving the financial pressures facing families.
Instead, she argued that affordability requires a combination of government measures.
She pointed to the elimination of MSP premiums, the removal of bridge tolls and lower ICBC rates as examples of policies she said helped families.
She also highlighted provincial investments in Surrey and increases to the minimum wage.
Sims said many workers continue to struggle to make ends meet and that some people are working two or three jobs simply to survive.
She also pointed to the BC NDP’s campaign commitment to reduce gasoline prices by approximately 30 cents per litre.
Sims compared that commitment with the NDP’s previous promise to eliminate the carbon tax, saying the government ultimately followed through on that pledge.
Her argument was that governments need to use several measures simultaneously rather than promise one simple solution.
“There are no simple solutions,” Sims said, arguing that anyone presenting one policy as the answer to a complex affordability problem has not fully confronted the realities of governing.
Healthcare: Sims defends NDP record but acknowledges more work is needed
Healthcare remains one of the most important issues for Surrey voters, and Sims used the interview to defend the provincial government’s record.
She pointed to efforts to fast-track internationally educated doctors and recruit healthcare professionals from outside British Columbia.
Sims also highlighted the province’s new medical school, saying students are already receiving training while construction of the permanent facility continues.
She pointed to expanded healthcare roles for nurse practitioners and changes allowing people to obtain certain prescriptions through pharmacies.
Sims also cited coverage for diabetes medication as another healthcare measure.
But she acknowledged that the system is not perfect.
“Our population grew very, very quickly,” she said.
Sims argued that Surrey’s healthcare infrastructure needs to be viewed in the context of the city’s rapid population growth.
She also contrasted the current government’s approach with the previous BC Liberal government, arguing that land had previously been sold after the government determined Surrey did not need another hospital.
Sims said a new full-service hospital is now being built in Cloverdale.
She also pointed to a new tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital, additional renal beds and a cardiac unit.
Sims said the provincial government has already committed to another tower at Surrey Memorial.
Her message was that Surrey still needs more healthcare capacity, but that significant projects are already underway.
Public safety and extortion remain major concerns
Public safety was another central part of the interview.
Sims said the first priority in dealing with crime must be catching those responsible.
She said her experience dealing with the extortion crisis demonstrated the importance of cooperation between different levels of government and law enforcement.
“It’s not over yet,” Sims said, warning that continued attention is required.
Sims also discussed the recruitment of young people into violent crime.
She said some young people are being offered thousands of dollars to participate in shootings and argued that governments and communities need to address the conditions that make young people vulnerable to recruitment.
“If you do the crime, you have to do the time,” Sims said.
She also said individuals who commit crimes and do not have legal status in Canada should face deportation.
At the same time, Sims emphasized that enforcement alone would not solve the problem.
She called for greater prevention work involving families, schools, police and community organizations.
She also argued that young people need to be involved in developing solutions.
“We don’t need to tell our kids, we need to listen to them,” Sims said.
Sims says she would not be silenced by her own party
One of the more direct questions in the interview focused on whether Sims would be an independent voice for Surrey-Panorama or simply vote with the BC NDP government.
Sims pointed to her history of advocacy and said her record demonstrates that she is willing to speak up.
She said her constituency office has traditionally maintained additional staff to ensure residents can receive assistance.
When in Surrey, she said her focus would be constituency service.
When in Victoria, she said her responsibility would be helping develop policies that are good for British Columbia and Surrey.
Sims rejected the idea that her party could simply silence her.
“I have a strong voice and I use it,” she said.
She added that when she has concerns within the party, she raises them and would continue doing so.
Sims takes aim at Brian Tepper and BC Conservatives
The sharpest political criticism in the interview came when Sims was asked about Brian Tepper, the current MLA for Surrey-Panorama.
Rather than focusing extensively on Tepper’s individual record, Sims said she wanted to emphasize what she believes she would offer voters.
Her central criticism was that she considers Tepper and the party he represents divisive.
“We need someone who builds bridges in our community, who brings people together,” Sims said.
Sims criticized what she described as the party’s positions on multiculturalism, human rights, healthcare and education.
She also questioned how the BC Conservatives could maintain their commitment to limiting tax increases while continuing to fund public services.
Sims referred to her experience during the Gordon Campbell government, saying she witnessed significant reductions involving teachers and healthcare workers.
She argued that British Columbia cannot return to what she considers that approach to public services.
Sims also raised human-rights issues and criticized Tepper over his political record and positions, including what she characterized as support for eliminating the Human Rights Code and Human Rights Commission.
Those statements are Sims’ characterization of Tepper and the BC Conservatives and should be considered in that political context.
Her broader argument was that Surrey’s diversity requires an MLA willing to actively defend and represent all parts of the community.
“I want to do the work,” Sims said. “I want to do the work to build a strong community, strong British Columbia for my children and yours.”
Sims says voters can ask her any question
The interview concluded with a question designed to put Sims on the other side of the questioning process.
Asked what she considered the toughest question voters should ask her, Sims rejected the premise that there is a single “good” or “bad” question.
“There is no good question. There is no bad question,” she said.
Drawing once again on her teaching background, Sims said residents should feel comfortable asking her anything.
She said she would answer honestly, including acknowledging when an issue falls outside the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
In those cases, she said she would direct residents toward the appropriate level of government.
The case Sims is making to Surrey-Panorama voters
Sims’ overall message is built around experience and advocacy.
She is asking voters to look at her previous work in education, government and broadcasting and conclude that she would be an active MLA for Surrey-Panorama.
Her campaign argument is that Surrey needs strong representation at a time when the city continues to face pressure around affordability, healthcare, public safety, education and rapid population growth.
At the same time, she is drawing a sharp contrast with Brian Tepper and the BC Conservatives, arguing that Surrey-Panorama needs a representative who will focus on investment, multiculturalism, public services and bringing different communities together.
Whether that argument persuades voters will ultimately be decided at the ballot box.
For now, Sims is making her pitch clearly: she wants another opportunity to represent Surrey-Panorama in Victoria—and says she intends to be an active voice rather than a passive member of the legislature.
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
