RANDEEP Sarai, Liberal candidate for Surrey Centre, on Wednesday released his 2021 Platform Commitments to keep Surrey Centre moving forward for everyone.

The commitments include:

Building a new medical school at SFU Surrey Campus

• Better access to primary healthcare and Indigenous healthcare with the construction of a new Simon Fraser University Medical School in Surrey. This will support a re-elected Liberal government’s commitment to invest $3B to hire 7,500 family doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners over four years

Expand access to federal services and build Surrey Centre Block

• Expand access to federal services and bring the Surrey Centre Block, a new federal building and government services hub, to Surrey’s downtown core.

Improve and make mental health services and care accessible in Surrey

• Invest in the mental health of Surrey residents through transfers to the provincial government.
• Create a 3-digit mental health crisis and suicide prevention hotline;
• Secure funding for the important work of Surrey’s community organizations who support those experiencing challenges with their mental health, homelessness or substance abuse.

Improve prevention and intervention of gun and gang violence

• Expand guns and gang prevention funding, including through sustained funding for the Surrey Anti-Gang and Family Empowerment Program.
• Further strengthen Canada’s gun laws and toughen our laws on banned assault weapons.
• Crack down on high-capacity magazines to limit the number of rounds guns can hold;
• Crack down on illegal firearms smuggling.
• Support province of British Columbia to implement a ban on handguns across their jurisdictions.

SARAI said that Surrey has seen significant growth over the last six years with him as the Member of Parliament for Surrey Centre.

This includes multiple large investments in the city:

• Increasing the amount of affordable housing in Surrey. The Liberal government has made housing and home ownership more accessible to more Canadians through the creation of Canada’s first ever national housing strategy.

– This includes 105 new affordable units through the $16.4 million Rapid Housing Initiative investment. These units will support individuals experiencing homelessness and those struggling with substance abuse, mental health and spiritual wellness.

• In July, $1.3 billion in funding was announced for the Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension to support the fast-growing population in Metro-Vancouver. The project will create 3,000 full-time well-paying jobs and create more accessible and sustainable transportation for the region.
• In July, the new Regional Development Agency for British Columbia, PacifiCAN was announced. PacifiCAN will tailor support for small business owners and innovative entrepreneurs, and advance economic development that fits the real needs of British Columbians and its unique economy.
• SFU Surrey’s Sustainable Energy Engineering building, made possible by the Liberal government’s $45 million contribution;
• $60.4 million to build Canada’s largest RCMP forensics lab located in Green Timbers.
• The Liberal government has signed an agreement with the government of British Columbia for $10 a day child care. This agreement will not only support the education of children in Surrey, but also support pandemic recovery and allow more parents to return to the workforce and contribute to our growing economy – a deal that the Conservatives have already said they will cancel.

Sarai said: “I entered politics in order to make a difference in our community – a community that has previously been ignored by past Conservative representation in Ottawa. I am proud of my record in this community – and together we have achieved a great deal for this city. It has been an honour to see the growth and development since being elected as your Member of Parliament for Surrey Centre and I hope I can count on your support to continue my work in the best interest of our community.”