Surrey, B.C. (June 24, 2025): Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis says Surrey Council’s decision to approve temporary parking for over 200 trucks at 20th Street and 194th Avenue is simply putting off a permanent solution to a growing problem.

 

“I’ve been a councillor for nearly seven years and neither Doug McCallum nor Brenda Locke have addressed the growing need for truck parking with a permanent solution,” noted Annis. “Temporary use permits approved by the city last for three years, and can be extended for another three. A real, permanent solution is needed, but it’s never been addressed.”

 

Annis said Surrey’s truckers are the “backbone” of the region’s critical transportation network, and deserve a long-term, permanent solution to their growing parking issues.

 

“We’re short about 2,000 truck spots in Surrey,” said Annis. “It’s a growing and serious issue, but the city keeps offering temporary, band aid solutions, which simply put the issue off for another day, and another council. That means the problem only gets worse. I want the city to find permanent solutions, which means working with our truckers, as well as the provincial government. Unless city council makes permanent solutions a priority, truck parking will always be a growing issue.”

 

Annis also said the site approved by council on Monday night is environmentally sensitive, and while the city has said there cannot be any maintenance, washing, or oil changes, there’s a risk that accidents and normal day-to-day operations will impact the site.

 

“It’s inevitable that even daily operations will put the site at some risk, which reinforces the need for a permanent site that is designed and built for trucks, their maintenance, and normal operations,” added Annis.

 

“Voting against this temporary approval was not easy because I know the struggle facing our truckers, but the right thing to do is to force council to stop issuing temporary permits and make a permanent solution a priority. Right now, we are simply kicking the problem down the road and it will only get worse. Politicians have a knack for putting off tough decisions, and that’s exactly what temporary use permits are. Surrey’s trucking industry is too important to the region and our city to be forced to live with temporary permits with no real end in sight.”