SCC News and Updates
Jul
26
2011
SCC motion on parkland purchase referred to staff
SCC News Releases 2
for immediate release A Surrey Civic Coalition motion on whether the City of Surrey should purchase land to be preserved as parkland was referred to staff at the Surrey Council meeting Monday, July 25. SCC Councillor Bob Bose brought a motion before Council seeking to have the question of purchasing private land for parkland be put to referendum in conjunction with the civic election on November 19. Bose said Council recently approved an Ecological Management System report, but said the most important parts of the plan, hubs and corridors, cannot be achieved within Surrey’s existing parkland acquisition program. “Time is
May
07
2011
SCC elects council and trustee candidates at first nomination
SCC News Releases 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition took its first step toward the November civic election by electing a partial slate of candidates at its nomination convention on Saturday. Elected to represent SCC for Surrey City Council were Gary Robinson, Rina Gill, Stephanie Ryan, and Grant Rice, while Charlene Dobie, Laurence Greeff, and Moh Chelali, will be SCC’s School Trustee candidates. “The SCC delegates chose a good mix of new and experienced candidates,” said Gord Savard, SCC president. “Voters will be impressed with what these folks have to offer.” Gill, Ryan and Rice ran with SCC in 2008, while Robinson, who served
Feb
24
2011
Extending school hours a band-aid solution says SCC Trustee
SCC News Releases 0
Ijaz Chatha says extending school hours and portable classrooms are band-aid solutions to fixing the shortage of schools. Other than the funding for seismic upgrades or replacements there has been no capital funding for new schools since 2005. The Board is currently considering an extended school day at Earl Marriott and Lord Tweedsmuir secondary schools to deal with the overcrowding. “How long can we rely on band aid solutions to accommodate growing enrolment in our schools if there is no sign of capital funding in the near future. asked Chatha. The board has been placing portables throughout the district, which
Feb
11
2011
Surrey Civic Coalition supports a living wage policy
SCC News Releases 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition is continuing its campaign to bring a living wage to Surrey. Bob Bose, SCC’s only councillor, served notice of motion to Surrey Council at the last Council meeting, asking council to debate the merits of such a policy. Gary Robinson, a former Surrey Councillor, who is expected to seek an SCC nomination for Council, succeeded in having a Living Wage policy adopted in 1993 which was subsequently quashed when Doug McCallum defeated Bose for the mayor’s seat. Robinson said now is the perfect time for council to consider such a policy, since the city was recently
Feb
02
2011
SCC School Trustee Chatha stays loyal to party
SCC News Releases 0
Ijaz Ahmed Chatha, Surrey School Trustee with the Surrey Civic Coalition, said he is disappointed that School Trustees Terry Allen and Laurie Larsen have left SCC but said he will remain with the party. “It’s a matter of loyalty,” said Chatha. “I stood with voters and parents to try to improve education in Surrey and the voters had confidence in me. I am proud to stay and work with SCC and those who supported me.” Chatha said Allen and Larsen invited him to join a new party made up of the current trustees but he declined. Allen was a founding
Feb
02
2011
SCC supports concept of living wage
SCC News Releases 0
Former Surrey City Councillor Gary Robinson thinks it’s time to bring the living wage back to Surrey. Robinson, who is expected to seek a council nomination with the Surrey Civic Coalition for the 2011 election, said SCC adopted a policy supporting the concept of a living wage policy for the city of Surrey. Living wage bylaws ensure workers employed directly or indirectly by a municipal government be paid a wage that enables them to comfortably meet their basic needs. While serving on Surrey Council in 1993, under then-mayor Bob Bose, Robinson succeeded in having a Living Wage policy adopted. He
Feb
01
2011
SCC sad to lose Allen and Larsen but will regroup for November election
SCC News Releases 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition is saddened that school trustees Terry Allen and Laurie Larsen have left our party. Allen was a founding member of SCC and we worked together to elect him three times. We nominated and campaigned for Larsen twice, and the second time we were successful in getting her elected. The truth behind their defections is Allen and Larsen were not happy with various aspects of the SCC’s nomination process. Specifically, they were adamant that SCC not nominate any additional trustee candidates to join the then-three SCC trustees. SCC is a democratically-run political party where the majority makes
Jul
27
2010
SCC says legalization of secondary suites a step in the right direction
SCC News Releases 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition is giving cautious endorsement to Surrey Council’s decision to allow secondary suites but says neighbourhoods must be allowed to decide on an individual basis. Surrey Council voted unanimously to allow one secondary suite in each residential home, with a bylaw coming forward this fall to finalize these changes. “It’s about time Surrey Council acknowledged the elephant in the room, that is the estimated 20,000-plus basement suites in the city,” said SCC President Stephanie Ryan. “We’re pleased council has come to a decision but we’re concerned the mayor and council will make sweeping changes and not allow
Jun
21
2010
Task Force Recommendations Lack a Greater Vision
SCC News Releases 0
The Surrey Civic Coalition says that the local government elections task force’s recommendations may patch some of the worst leaks in BC’s municipal elections system, but that the task force missed an opportunity to enact more significant changes that would address the greater democratic deficit that most municipal elections suffer from. “We were hopeful that the task force’s recommendations would have a further reach, and do more to make our local elections more democratic and more accountable, bringing local government back to the people. We are not confident that the changes that have been proposed go far enough in doing
Apr
26
2010
SCC calls for a more fair and inclusive electoral process
SCC News Releases 0
How should Surrey elect its city government? The Surrey Civic Coalition hopes a ward system would encourage more people to vote and campaign spending limits would enable more candidates to run for office. In its submission to the provincial government’s Local Government Elections Task Force, SCC recommended changes to campaign financing and disclosure, a referendum on the ward system, a return to two-year terms, and more oversight by Elections BC. ”We’re seeking a fair and more inclusive electoral process,” said SCC President Stephanie Ryan, adding SCC hopes the provincial task force deciding how we elect local government will encourage discussion