May
05
2011
SCC Says Protect the Little Campbell River Headwaters – An opportunity for a major park for Surrey
SCC 2008 Election 0
Surrey Council under the steerage of Mayor Doug McCallum voted in favour of the Campbell Heights Business Park in order to woo investors to Surrey and increase the business tax base. There was immediate opposition to a large-scale business park so far from town centres and transit networks. Critics worried about the lost opportunity of such a business park in the city’s core, which has long needed an economic boost. Environmentalists decried the loss of significant habitat and the impact on the sensitive salmon-bearing streams of the Little Campbell River. Others bemoaned the loss of land ideally suited to futureRead more
Apr
21
2011
Surrey needs real sustainable development, not just rhetoric.
SCC 2008 Election 0
Stephanie Ryan: Surrey needs real sustainable development, not just rhetoric By Stephanie Ryan – June 5, 2009 Sustainability. It’s the current buzzword in Surrey. But city council’s actions belie the rhetoric. Take, for example, the recent suggestion by one of Mayor Dianne Watts’s council team to swap “unfarmable” land out of the Agricultural Land Reserve to use it for industrial purposes, including truck parking. The ALR was established in 1972 by the NDP government to protect farmland so that present and future generations would be able to grow healthy, local food. In 1973, 86 percent of the vegetables consumed inRead more
Apr
21
2011
The Surrey Civic Coalition supports a Wards system in Surrey — but voters should have the choice
SCC 2008 Election 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition supports a Wards system in Surrey and believes voters should have the choice. With more than 400,000 people in Surrey, the current at-large electoral system is ineffective and the majority of existing City Councillors represent only one part of the City. This has resulted in consistent complaints from Surrey citizens who feel their city council is not accessible to regular citizens. The Surrey Civic Coalition believes fair, balanced representation on Council can be achieved with a a Wards system. With a Wards system, each community in Surrey would have a voice on Council. Ward Councillors willRead more
Apr
21
2011
SCC Advocating for Better Transportation Alternatives
SCC 2008 Election 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition is committed to advocating for better public transit and for better transportation alternatives for the residents of Surrey. With the price of gas constantly rising, people in Surrey deserve help to cope with the cost of getting around. In the last year, the provincial government and TransLink have announced that they will be tolling three bridges in North Surrey: the Port Mann, the Patullo, and the Golden Ears Bridges. This is despite the fact that no other major city in BC will face tolls- tolls on the Coquihalla Highway were recently lifted, and new bridges inRead more
Apr
21
2011
School and City Partnerships – An SCC Trustee and Council Initiative
SCC 2008 Election 0
The SCC is in a unique position to further promote partnerships between the city and School District 36. The school district has created Community School Coordinator positions and liaised with city staff to create community based programs at schools in low income neighbourhoods. The SCC, with candidates and incumbents on both council and the Board of Education, can expand these partnerships and look beyond extended school hours to capital partnerships. Several municipalities in the lower mainland have implemented successful partnerships between their school districts, city staff and community associations. One such example is the partnership that created Cambie Secondary SchoolRead more
Apr
21
2011
SCC Trustee Candidates – A Commitment to Keep Fleetwood Elementary Open
SCC 2008 Election 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition is committed to keeping Fleetwood Elementary School open. It was a bad decision by the Board of Education to close this school which has served the neighbourhood for many years. Having your children walk 8 blocks on 88th Avenue, a very busy road, to get to Green Timbers Elementary is not safe. Closing down a treasured community resource makes no sense. Surrey’s population is growing and the province is considering adding classes for 3 and 4 year olds. Clearly now is not the time to be closing schools. Instead, the Board of Education should be repairing,Read more
Apr
21
2011
SCC – Standing Up For Manufactured Home Owners
SCC 2008 Election 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition is committed to protecting your rights as manufactured homes owners. When the owner of a manufactured home park wants to redevelop your park, evictions notices can be issued and the only compensation provided by law is the equivalent of 12 months pad rent. How far will that go to compensate having your lives turned upside down? And since any manufactured home park can be redeveloped you have no security and your investment cannot grow. You have built your life around your park and there are few if any vacant locations anywhere in Surrey to which youRead more
Nov
12
2008
SCC Calls on Surrey To Eliminate Cosmetic Pesticides Use
SCC 2008 Election 0
For Immediate Release SCC Calls on Surrey To Eliminate Cosmetic Pesticides Use Jim McMurtry wants to bring protection from cosmetic pesticides use to the City of Surrey. McMurtry, a city council candidate with the Surrey Civic Coalition, successfully waged a 10-year battle with the Surrey School District to have the use of cosmetic pesticides banned on school property. He continues his campaign with the city. “I’m calling on Mayor Dianne Watts to come clean – environmentally clean – with her true plan for a bylaw on the cosmetic use of pesticides,” said McMurtry who stated the pesticides have been linkedRead more
Nov
12
2008
Surrey Mayor and City Councilors Provided with Briefing Notes by Staff In Support of Election Campaign
SCC 2008 Election 0
Wednesday, November 12 For Immediate Release Surrey Mayor and City Councilors Provided with Briefing Notes by Staff In Support of Election Campaign The Surrey Civic Coalition learned mayor and city councillors were provided with briefing notes by city staff to help them in recent all-candidates meetings. An inter-office memo titled “re: All Candidates Meeting with Smart Growth BC” was provided on the eve of an all candidates meeting sponsored by Smart Growth BC. SCC candidate Grant Rice, who learned of this, said, “Incumbent councillors cannot direct city staff use their working hours to support candidates in the election. You can’tRead more
Nov
12
2008
SCC Candidates Set Up a Mock Tollbooth to Protest Unfair Bridge Tolls
SCC 2008 Election 0
The SCC set up a mock toll booth Wednesday morning to protest the recent announcement that a new Pattullo Bridge would be a tolled bridge. Surrey Civic Coalition council candidates Grant Rice and Stephanie Ryan wave to morning commuters who agree with SCC’s opposition to tolling the Pattullo Bridge. Surrey Civic Coalition School Trustee candidate Ijaz Chatha being filmed by a news crew while taking part in the protest. Click on photos to view full sized… Ryan, who has campaigned for better public transit and against singling out Surrey for tolls, said, “If the Campbell government gets its way, allRead more