DOUG McCallum, who served as the Mayor of Surrey from 2018 to 2022, on Monday noted that the City is a prosperous, exciting, fast-growing, multicultural, dynamic, urban metropolis with so much potential, expressed his deep concerns regarding the lack of progress and missed opportunities under the current leadership of Mayor Brenda Locke and her team.
McCallum pointed out that during his tenure he delivered on several crucial campaign promises for the betterment of Surrey residents. Notably, he secured a significant $4.1 billion to build SkyTrain to Langley, providing enhanced transportation options to the community and reducing carbon emissions in our city.
Under his leadership, Surrey also transitioned to its own local police service, reinforcing public safety and security for residents.
McCallum pointed out that his commitment to fiscal responsibility is evident in his freeze of property taxes at 2.9% for four consecutive years. He and the Safe Surrey Coalition invested $424 million in essential capital projects, including the construction of a new Bailey bridge, a new Bear Creek Park stadium, walking tracks, and the creation of the new 84th road connector, addressing critical infrastructure needs in the city.
In contrast, Locke’s first year in office has raised significant concerns. She failed to fulfill her primary election promises to keep the RCMP and she also failed to stop the new 84th road connector. Her first year in office is marked with nothing but failures.
McCallum said that instead of delivering on her election promises, this is what she and her team have delivered:
* Increased property taxes by an unprecedented 12.5%, a historic hike that has burdened small businesses and residents during an ongoing affordability crisis.
* With an ongoing housing crisis, Locke and her team canceled PLAs for 500 attainable “missing middle” homes in her first week in office.
* Purposeful delay tactics in the police transition, costing an estimated $8 million per month, has added up to a staggering $96 million in lost taxpayer dollars that could have been invested in capital projects, such as a brand new community center with a swimming pool.
McCallum said Locke’s credibility has come under scrutiny as she has been caught making misleading statements and has lost the respect of Metro Vancouver mayors. The provincial government has admonished her for stalling tactics and false misrepresentations to the media. These actions raise questions about her ability to govern and prioritize the needs of Surrey residents over personal agendas.
McCallum expressed his concerns, stating, “Only an out-of-touch and egotistical individual would throw $96 million down the drain with a total disregard for hardworking Surrey taxpayers. It is with great disappointment that I observe the complete lack of progress and numerous missed opportunities in the past year for Surrey residents. At this current trajectory of governance by Brenda Locke and her team, they are steering Surrey towards financial ruin.”
In McCallum’s view, Locke’s first year in office has been marked by an inability to fulfill her commitments to the community and to provide effective governance. He believes it is time for the mayor to prioritize the needs and expectations of Surrey residents over her personal interests or step aside and let someone else do the job.
