SAFE Surrey Coalition councillors are calling on Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang to introduce recall legislation for municipal elected officials in British Columbia, inspired by Alberta’s model.

“We’ve seen the need for such legislation in the face of governance challenges in Surrey and other jurisdictions,” said Councillor Doug Elford.

He added: “Recall legislation would empower citizens and ensure elected officials are fiscally responsible and keep property taxes affordable. Mayor Brenda Locke campaigned for this, but her leadership has been called into question due to ongoing issues at Surrey City Hall.”

Criticizing the current state of affairs, former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum said: “Mayor Locke’s refusal to adequately fund the police service, her spending on partisan political advertisements with taxpayer dollars, and her reckless decisions leading to increased property taxes are exactly why we need recall legislation. Residents deserve the right to hold their leaders accountable.”

Safe Surrey Coalition is requesting Kang to introduce a municipal recall legislation in the upcoming 2024 legislative session, suggesting a recall threshold of 50% of the total votes cast for an official.

“This isn’t just about Surrey. It’s about ensuring all municipal leaders in BC are accountable to their constituents,” said Councillor Mandeep Nagra.