Aug
25
2011
I’ve spoken with many folks who are expressing frustration with not being able to speak with any City Councillors in their time of need. After multiple phone calls and numerous messages, they move on to the next Councillor in hopes of getting a response. This process repeats until the citizen finally gets fed up and stops trying. Even if there is a response, the follow-up process takes a while.
Ultimately, citizens have expressed a desire to have one specific Councillor responsible for their local area. Surrey can easily be separated into constituencies, or wards, just as it’s done on the provincial and federal levels of government. MLAs and MPs have a responsibility to serve their citizens and take great pride in their constituencies.
I’d like to re-introduce you to a concept that the Surrey Civic Coalition strongly believe in – the wards system. We’d like to educate citizens on the pros (and potential cons) of operating under a wards system and then let the public decide whether it should be implemented in Surrey or not.
One of our main challenges has been the refusal from the current Surrey First council to even discuss the wards system. SCC Councillor Bob Bose has tried many times to bring the question of whether Surrey wants a wards system to referendum; however, without any support from his fellow Councillors, the motion is continually denied.
One South Asian businessman in Surrey was featured on OMNI Punjabi News on August 17 where he expressed his growing frustration of not being able to address the issue of increased criminal activity around his place of business to a Surrey City Councillor. After many attempts and messages, he felt his best option was to send in a petition asking for a wards system, which would assign one Councillor in his area who would then be able to address his concerns. This new system would save him both time and energy. Shouldn’t we want to make life easier for the citizens of Surrey and reassure the public that Councillors are here to serve them?
A wards system would improve accountability to Surrey City Council. Councillors would have to be easily accessible in order to serve the citizens living in their constituency/ward. Every major city in Canada – except Surrey and Vancouver – has adopted this system.
I think it’s time the current City Council allowed the citizens of Surrey to have their say on the wards system.
Please comment on this blog or feel free to email me your feedback at: rina@rinagill.ca.