Bylaws should be enforced, and if we’re not going to enforce a bylaw it should be gone: Linda Annis
Surrey First councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis wants the city’s one-year pilot program dealing with building bylaw contraventions to include a full review and overhaul of construction rules and red tape.
“If we’re going to have a bylaw, it needs to be enforced,” noted Annis. “But if we’re not going to enforce a bylaw, it should be gone. The one-year pilot program authorizing city staff to address bylaw contraventions has to use some common sense and overhaul Surrey’s construction and building bylaws. Right now, our bylaws include layer upon layer of red tape and regulations that have built up over decades, and this is a chance to make changes that save time, save money and reduce the frustration people have when it comes to dealing with city hall.”
Annis said building bylaws need to make safety the priority, and those safety related regulations and bylaws need absolute compliance, with no exceptions.
“Right now, our bylaw office only investigates illegal building if a complaint is made,” said Annis. “Quite often the complaint is used like a weapon between neighbours who might not get along. At the same time, many homeowners don’t realize that their small project needs permits, and they find dealing with city hall frustrating and costly. That tells me we need to do a better job of educating people, but we also need to look at our bylaws and ask which ones are really necessary.”
Annis said her approach to the pilot is different from the mayor’s focus.
“The mayor wants to use the pilot program to turn a blind eye to contraventions just before the October election,” said Annis. “Meanwhile, I want the pilot program to inject some common sense into our city’s building bylaws, reduce red tape, and ensure we only have necessary bylaws that we’re prepared to fully enforce.”
Annis added that she has also heard from homeowners who believe the cost of city permits are a “money grab” at a time when every Surrey resident is financially stretched.
“Permits come with a cost, and the more permits you need, the more costs are added to your project or renovation,” said Annis. “We definitely need more public information, more education, more community engagement, and less red tape and costs that frustrate homeowners with legitimate projects. I believe in city bylaws, and that means when we have a bylaw that we’re not prepared to enforce we need to ask ourselves if it is time for that bylaw to go.”