May
05
2011
Another Hospital for Surrey
Since its inception, the Surrey Civic Coalition has lobbied for a second hospital for Surrey. With the Surrey City Hall moving to the Whalley area, SCC believes the current City Hall lands should be considered for a second hospital for Surrey. The site is approximately halfway between Surrey Memorial Hospital and Peach Arch Hospital (north and south), and approximately halfway between Langley Memorial Hospital and Delta Hospital (east-west). We are all aware of how Surrey’s rapid growth has put a strain on Surrey Memorial Hospital. Surrey should begin work with the provincial government now to build another hospital. SCC Council
May
05
2011
Light Rail Transit for Surrey
The Surrey Civic Coalition has advocated for light rail transit in Surrey since we formed in 2002. Translink is currently looking at transportation improvement options for Surrey, including extending Skytrain, building light rail transit and providing increased bus service. We believe Skytrain is too expensive and takes decades from concept until it actually has riders.We also believe Surrey’s transportation needs have outgrown simply more busses and Surrey has always been shortchanged when it comes to bus routes. We believe, like many other cities, that light rail transit gives the best bang for the buck. SCC Councillors will work with Translink and
May
05
2011
An Events Centre for Surrey
As part of the rebuilding of a City Centre in Whalley, SCC recommends working with other partners to build a mid-size (8,000 to 10,000 seats) events centre, near either the Central City or Scott Road Skytrain stations. Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack have all recently built new Events Centres and attracted professional and major junior hockey, other sports, trades shows and conventions, as well as many civic events. Surrey is long overdue for such a project. If Surrey is truly to become the province’s major centre south of the Fraser, an Events Centre should be part of the plan. Its proximity to
May
05
2011
Crisis in Surrey Schools
The biggest crisis in Surrey right now is the lack of schools. As has been well documented, Surrey has received no capital funding for new school construction for the past six years. While it’s easy to blame the provincial government, Surrey Council has to accept its share of the blame as well. We have to ask ourselves, if there are no new schools being built, why are we continuing to develop like there’s no tomorrow? In the 2008 election, the Surrey Civic Coalition was the only party in Surrey which ran candidates for both City Council and the Board of Education.
May
05
2011
Local Democracy
One of the most important ways SCC wants to work together with Surrey citizens is through local referenda. We have a civic election coming up on November 19. What better time to get citizen feedback than when we’re having an election anyway? The issue of wards comes up every election in Surrey and every time the current council shoots it down because the current at-large system favours their re-election chances. But there are all sorts of issues Surrey voters might like a voice on. Surrey First wants a 10,000 events centre for indoor rodeos in Cloverdale. We think it’s better
May
05
2011
A Living Wage for Surrey
The Surrey Civic Coalition supports the concept of a Living Wage policy for the city of Surrey. SCC elected officials on council and the Board of Education will work with other stakeholders to make this policy a reality. Living wage bylaws ensure workers directly employed or contracted to work for a municipal government be paid a wage that enables them to comfortably meet their basic needs. This market-based rate is meant to reflect the actual income required for working families. This year, the New Westminster City Council unanimously passed a motion mandating that anyone working on city property receive a living
May
05
2011
Secondary Suites
The Surrey Civic Coalition supports the concept of secondary suites in residential neighbourhoods. Secondary suites provide affordable housing and help homeowners with their mortgage payments. There are now about 40,000 secondary suites in Surrey. Secondary suites are here to stay. That’s a fact. While SCC agrees with the one suite policy, we have have always maintained that individual neighbourhoods need a mechanism to determine for themselves what’s best for their neighbourhood, and an ability to opt-out from secondary suite zoning if the majority of residents agree. Dianne Watts and Surrey First (and SET before them) let the situation fester for decades. What works