Statement from the Mayor: BC Budget 2024

I acknowledge and welcome the funding for the new hospital and SkyTrain extension to Langley, however those projects will not be completed for at least another four years. Unfortunately, the NDP government has, once again, failed to understand the current critical infrastructure needs of Surrey. This new budget offers no immediate relief to the challenges Surrey faces in health care, schools and transit. In the meantime, patients having to be housed in hallways and the stressful working conditions for Surrey Memorial Hospital doctors, nurses and staff will persist. Despite having a similar population to Vancouver, Surrey Memorial Hospital will have to make do with less than half of the operating rooms available at Vancouver General Hospital. One new elementary school will not make a dent in reducing the hundreds of portables at our already overcrowded public schools. No new transit funding for the Metro region means there will be no relief for our overcrowded roads, and buses in Surrey will continue to run beyond capacity. It also means that many areas in Surrey will remain without basic bus service. Access to public transit is an essential component to achieving affordability and meeting the demand of the new housing targets set by Premier Eby. I have said it before, Surrey is doing its part to build more affordable housing, but there needs to be critical infrastructure in place to support the growth. Sadly, this provincial government continues to rely on the generosity of the good people of Surrey’s fundraising efforts to help fund major projects, while neglecting the immediate needs of Surrey.