FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 10, 2026
SURREY, BC — Mike Starchuk today challenged Brenda Locke and Doug McCallum to name one City service they will protect, and committed that an Imagine Surrey council will protect all of them: no layoffs of frontline staff, no facility closures, and no reduced hours at any recreation centre or library, inside a property tax rule of at or below inflation for four years.
Doug McCallum is promising a tax freeze with no math attached. But Doug cannot run from his record. Brenda Locke defunded the police by $47M this year.
Imagine Surrey’s rule is published in the platform: property tax increases at or below inflation for four years, and if inflation runs lower, so does the increase. Frontline emergency, recreation, library, and neighbourhood services are protected. Officers and firefighters that we need will get hired. The community centres and parks we need will get built. Garbage pickup will stay consistent and reliable for you.
“A freeze is what you announce when you’ve decided to cut and haven’t decided what,” said Starchuk. “Ask Doug McCallum which firehall waits, or which day of waste collection he’ll eliminate. Ask Brenda Locke whether she would cut the police budget again. I’ll tell you what we will protect: all of it. Frontline services will be protected under Imagine Surrey.”
“I spent 21 years in the provincial public service, and I’ve seen what a review does to the people on the other side of the counter,” said Margaret Mubanda, Imagine Surrey council candidate. “Seniors, kids in swimming lessons, families who need the library open on Sunday. Cuts have faces. We will not cut them like Doug McCallum or Brenda Locke.”
“This October, put out the fire at City Hall and elect a team that will protect your services,” said Starchuk.
Imagine Surrey is committed to lower costs and strong services. Imagine Surrey’s full platform, the Contract for a Better Surrey, is at imaginesurrey.ca/vision.
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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]