Now she is saying the arena is a P3 project, but won’t provide details: Linda Annis
Surrey, B.C. (September 16, 2026): Surrey First Councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis says Brenda Locke’s 10,000-seat arena continues to raise questions, even at tonight’s mayoral candidate debate where Locke said the arena would be a P3 (Public Private Partnership) but refused to provide any details.
“She realizes her arena is not popular, so she’s trying to salvage it by calling it a P3,” said Annis. “But when you aren’t prepared to provide details, the project just raises more and more questions. If the private sector thought the project was viable, they would build it, run it, and own it. Instead, Surrey taxpayers are on the hook because Brenda Locke is ready to build a 10,000-seat arena for a hockey team that attracts 4,000 people per game. She claims it will cost $360 million, I say it will cost Surrey taxpayers closer to $600 million.
“The price of the arena, the questionable price of the land, and the lack of details on the agreement with the Vancouver Giants just reinforces this project is shrouded in mystery and remains one big question mark, and taxpayers are not getting answers.”
Annis has said she will not proceed with a project that puts taxpayers on the hook or tax dollars at risk. Instead, she and her Surrey First team are committed to more parks, pools, rinks and playing fields in local neighbourhoods where Surrey kids are on waiting lists.
“This is looking and feeling like a very one-sided deal,” said Annis. “And our taxpayers are getting the short end of the stick.”