The provincial government thought we wouldn’t notice, but we did: Councillor Linda Annis

Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis said last night’s election results show that any provincial government that ignores Surrey does so at their political peril.

 

“For the past seven years, the provincial government ignored Surrey, and thought we wouldn’t notice,” said Annis. “But our voters did notice, and last minute election promises were not enough to wipe away seven years of neglect.”

 

Annis said the swing to the BC Conservatives across Surrey demonstrated what can happen when Surrey voters have had enough.

 

“In four short years, Surrey will be BC’s biggest city, and it’s definitely time that we flex our political muscle to ensure our city gets more transit, more health care, more schools, and more infrastructure,” added Annis. “We have 8,000 students in portables, and students going to school in shifts. Our one hospital is struggling, the new Cloverdale hospital is really too small and doesn’t even have a maternity ward. Even with the SkyTrain project to Langley, we are still short when it comes to transit and other important infrastructure. We’re not asking for more than our share, but our growth demands that the provincial government step up.”

 

Annis said demands by the provincial government for more housing, with no sign of provincial support for any added infrastructure, did not sit well with Surrey voters.

 

“People looked around their neighbourhoods and questioned how the province could demand more housing without a plan to provide infrastructure,” noted Annis. “Like everyone on council, I’m looking forward to working with each and every MLA that’s been elected. But the results of this election have put them all on notice: if you don’t deliver for Surrey don’t expect our support at election time.”