FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
SURREY, BC — Mike Starchuk today committed to defend Surrey’s libraries: longer hours, new branches in the neighbourhoods that have none, and a commitment in writing that no politician at City Hall tells a librarian what belongs on the shelf.
Surrey’s Conservative Party and SurreyNOW have both attacked SOGI and threatened to take books off of shelves. Imagine Surrey has a clear message for these meddling politicians: hands off of our books. Troy van Vliet and Honveer Randhawa want to control your life, Mike Starchuk will defend free speech.
A library is the one public building in Surrey where nobody asks what you can afford. It’s where a kid in Newton does homework because the apartment is too small, where a newcomer in Guildford learns the language, and where a senior in Whalley reads the paper and talks to someone. Across North America, libraries are facing book challenges and budget cuts at the same time. Surrey’s answer should be more library, not less.
Imagine Surrey’s plan will protect libraries by extended hours, with evening and weekend service where families actually use it. New branches in underserved areas, built into the neighbourhood hubs and community centres Imagine Surrey will start in the first term. Librarians’ professional judgment must be protected in writing, so collections are decided by professionals, not by whoever complains loudest to a councillor. And no reduced hours and no closures under an Imagine Surrey council, the same promise that covers every frontline service.
“A library is where a city keeps its promise that everyone gets a fair start,” said Starchuk. “In a city growing this fast, the answer to a waitlist at the library is a bigger library, not shorter hours. And no politician, me included, should be telling a librarian what to put on the shelf.”
“I serve on Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Advisory Committee for Asian Studies, and I’ve watched newcomer families make the library their first Canadian institution,” said Narima Dela Cruz, Imagine Surrey council candidate. “It’s where kids do homework, parents find their first job leads, and everyone is welcome. You don’t cut that. You grow it.”
“A core review that puts every program on the table puts the library on the table,” said Starchuk. “This October, put out the fire at City Hall and elect a team that will keep the doors open and the shelves free.”
Imagine Surrey is committed to strong services for Surrey residents. Advance voting is open on October 14th and 15th, election day is October 17th.
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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]