Appointment of New Surrey Ethics Commissioner

Surrey, B.C. - Following an extensive search performed by the Surrey Ethics Commissioner Selection Committee, Surrey Council has unanimously appointed Peter Johnson as the City’s new Ethics Commissioner. Mr. Johnson is a partner with B.C. law firm, Stewart McDannold Stuart, and possesses more than 30 years of knowledge and experience providing legal advice and assistance to local governments throughout the province on a wide variety of matters. 

“Restoring the Ethics Commissioner has been a top priority of mine to bring back transparency and accountability to Council,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “With his extensive experience on municipal matters, Peter Johnson is the ideal candidate to fulfill the duties of the Office of the Ethics Commissioner. I would also like to thank the Ethics Commissioner Selection Committee for their exceptional work in finding a highly qualified candidate for such an important position.”

Mr. Johnson had previously served as the City of Surrey’s interim ethics commissioner in 2020 when Surrey became the first municipality in British Columbia to establish such a  position.

As an independent officer, the role of the Ethics Commissioner role is to advise and assist Council on how to best enhance open, transparent, and accountable governance. The mandate of the Ethics Commissioner’s also includes the authority to investigate complaints and make disciplinary recommendations to Council.

The Surrey Ethics Selection Commissioner Committee was chaired by Councillor Harry Bains and the following members:

• Mayor Locke (co- chair)
• Marisa Cruickshank
• Joseph Cuenca
• Baljit Dhaliwal
• Jasroop Gosal