HONVEER Singh Randhawa, mayoral candidate for the Conservative Party of Surrey, on Thursday announced a major new commitment to expand public washroom availability across Surrey, calling it a matter of dignity, accessibility, public health, and compassion.
Randhawa said: “I’ve been listening, not from behind a desk at City Hall, but directly from Surrey residents in parks, transit areas, community spaces, and neighbourhoods across the city.
He said seniors have been telling him something simple, but heartbreaking: some avoid walks, some cut outings short, and some stop participating in community activities altogether because they don’t know where they will find a washroom. In one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, that should never happen, he added.
“I am hearing this over and over while speaking with people in our parks, neighbourhoods, transit areas, and public spaces,” said Randhawa. “They are worried there may not be a washroom nearby. … That is not the kind of city Surrey should be.”
The new Surrey Public Washroom Plan would prioritize the construction of strategically placed public washrooms on Surrey-owned properties, while also creating partnerships with businesses willing to make clean washrooms available to the public.
Randhawa said the policy comes directly from conversations he has had with Surrey residents, especially seniors, and business owners. He said access to clean and safe washrooms is one of the most overlooked quality-of-life issues facing residents today.
For seniors, families with children, transit riders, delivery drivers, tradespeople, and residents with medical conditions, the lack of access to public washrooms can create daily stress, embarrassment, and health concerns.
“No senior should feel trapped at home because of something as basic as washroom access,” Randhawa said. “And no hardworking person spending 10 or 12 hours on the road should be left without basic facilities in a modern city.”
He noted that the City of Surrey continues to grow rapidly, with major public gathering spaces, parks, and transit corridors serving thousands daily, including Newton Exchange, Guildford Exchange, Surrey Central, King George Station, and other busy areas. Yet residents continue to report major gaps in public washroom availability.
Under Randhawa’s plan, Surrey would identify high-demand locations where new city-owned public washrooms could be added as a priority after the election.
Potential locations for review would include:
* Transit exchanges and major pedestrian corridors
* Busy parks and recreation destinations
* Sports fields and community gathering areas
* Civic plazas and event spaces
* Senior-heavy community areas
* High-use public corridors across Surrey
Randhawa said facilities would be designed to be accessible, well-maintained, safe, and easy for residents to use.
“We build roads. We build transit exchange and bus stops, We build plazas,” he said. “But somewhere along the way, City Hall forgot one very basic thing people need when they leave their home.”
The second phase of the plan would focus on building partnerships with local businesses, commercial plazas, strip malls, gas stations, restaurants, and business associations willing to voluntarily offer washroom access to customers and the public.
Participating businesses could become part of a new Surrey Community Washroom Partnership Program.
In return, the City could provide:
* Recognition as a “Surrey Community Washroom Partner”
* Branding and promotion through Surrey’s website and public maps
* Community recognition for maintaining clean and accessible facilities
* Potential incentive and partnership opportunities
* Support in promoting healthier and more welcoming commercial areas
“Many local businesses already try to help customers whenever possible,” Randhawa said. “City Hall should work with them, recognize them, and support businesses that help make Surrey more welcoming and compassionate.”
Randhawa said improving washroom access would also help improve cleanliness and public comfort across the city.
“When basic facilities are missing, the consequences appear elsewhere, in parks, alleys, parking lots, and public spaces,” he said. “This is about proactive leadership and solving problems before they become bigger issues.”
Randhawa said this policy reflects the kind of leadership he wants to bring to Surrey City Hall, focused on listening to people and improving everyday life. “Too often, everyday concerns are ignored because they are not flashy political announcements,” he said. “But for seniors, parents, workers, and ordinary residents, these issues matter deeply.”
“I believe leadership starts by listening to people where they actually are in the parks, in the community, and on the streets of Surrey.”
Randhawa added: “And what I’m hearing is clear: people want a city that is cleaner, more compassionate, more practical, and more human. Surrey deserves leadership that understands dignity begins with the basics.”
