FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 24, 2026
SURREY, BC — Mike Starchuk today released Imagine Surrey’s Buy Surrey business plan: a City Hall that puts Surrey businesses at the front of the line, breaks its big contracts into pieces local companies can win, and partners with local businesses to drive down costs for residents.
City Hall spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year on goods, services, and construction. Under an Imagine Surrey council, the first question on every purchase is whether a Surrey business could do the work.
The SurreyPass Starchuk unveiled this morning is the resident’s half of Buy Surrey: discounts and special privileges at Surrey businesses that sign on. This afternoon’s plan is City Hall’s half of the equation. Residents buy local with the card in their pocket. City Hall buys local with the budget it already has and puts the businesses onto the card.
The plan starts with how City Hall buys. A Buy Surrey directory, and priority for local vendors. Big contracts, where it makes sense, should be broken into pieces that local businesses can bid on. “Solve It in Surrey” challenges, where local companies compete to fix real city problems and the winner gets the contract; similar to a hackathon. And an annual public report on what share of City spending went to Surrey businesses, with a target to grow it every year.
The plan also gives young people a way in. “First Job” is a City-funded program of paid work placements and apprenticeships in the trades, tech, and green jobs, built with Surrey’s schools, unions, training providers, and employers. Someone who grows up here or retrains here should be able to start a career here.
And it makes Surrey an easier place to open and run a business. Simple permits for food trucks, late-night eateries, night markets, and entertainment venues. Lower film and TV permit fees and a one-window Film and Event Desk with fast-track permits, so the people who bring work to Surrey aren’t the ones waiting the longest. Business improvement associations in more neighbourhoods, and an accelerator zone in every town centre, where new local businesses get fast-tracked approvals, targeted tax incentives, and one point of contact at City Hall.
“City Hall is one of the biggest customers in this city, and Surrey businesses are rarely its first call,” said Starchuk. “Break the contracts into pieces a local company can win, publish who got them, and let the best ideas in Surrey compete to fix Surrey’s problems.”
“I know how many capable companies in this city have never been asked to bid on City work,” said Perminder Chohan, Imagine Surrey council candidate and President and CEO of Lifewise Financial Group. “Buy Surrey is how a city grows its own economy instead of exporting it.”
“A dollar spent in Surrey stays in Surrey, whether it’s your SurreyPass at a local business or City Hall’s signature on a contract,” said Starchuk. “This October, put out the fire at City Hall and elect a team that backs Surrey business.”
Imagine Surrey is committed to smart investments that grow Surrey’s economy. Imagine Surrey’s full platform will be released over the coming weeks.
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About Imagine Surrey
Imagine Surrey is a civic party running a full slate of candidates in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. Led by mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk – a former firefighter and Chief Fire Prevention Officer, former City Councillor, and former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale – Imagine Surrey is committed to making Surrey the City of Champions by delivering: safe streets, fast commutes, smart investments, lower costs, and strong services.
Council candidates: Yousef Aldabainah-Barakat, Chandan Chahal, Perminder Chohan, Narima Dela Cruz, Ashiyana Hanif, William Li, Dr. Margaret Mubanda, and Kevin Wilkie.
Contact
Trevor Loke, Campaign Manager
604-838-5178
[email protected] / [email protected]