Brenda Locke's Surrey Connect outlines $1.5 billion in projects, tax hikes at inflation | Daily Hive

Brenda Locke's Surrey Connect platform outlines $1.5 billion in projects and property tax increases capped at inflation

Brenda Locke during Surrey Connect's full platform press conference on Oct. 1, 2026. (Surrey Connect)

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke’s Surrey Connect party is proposing nearly $1.5 billion in additional spending on public facilities, public parks, and streets, while promising to keep property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation.

Two new aquatic centres, a South Surrey ice arena, a concert hall, and a public safety campus are among the largest projects in the party’s platform for the civic election on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The party’s full platform was made public yesterday.

Other commitments include the creation of eight additional City-supported medical clinics as well as the offer of City-owned land to the provincial government to build a new women’s and children’s hospital for the South of Fraser region of Metro Vancouver.

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Surrey Connect notes that the almost $1.5-billion capital spending package would be in addition to previously announced commitments it describes as fully funded, including building both the Newton Recreation Centre and 10,000-seat Surrey City Centre Arena (the new home of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants) and hiring 560 additional public safety personnel.

The party argues that concluding the policing transition process from the Surrey RCMP to Surrey Police Services — something that Locke controversially fought against for a significant portion of her first term as mayor — would allow more money to go towards other municipal priorities.

“With that transition coming to an end, there is more capital that can be invested into building our City and delivering the amenities Surrey deserves,” reads the platform.

The largest share of the proposed spending, about $625 million, would go towards recreation, cultural, and community facilities.

Surrey Connect would allocate $150 million to a new South Surrey ice rink and another $150 million to a Surrey Concert Hall. The performing arts venue would accommodate concerts, theatre productions, cultural programming, and community events.

Two aquatic centres would each receive $120 million — one serving Surrey City Centre/Whalley, and another serving Cloverdale/Clayton.

The party also proposes to build an $80-million public library in Fleetwood, and a $5-million athletic clubhouse in Newton for sports and other recreational activities.

Public safety and emergency services account for another $485 million.

The biggest individual project in the platform is a $350-million public safety campus, intended to bring public safety services and emergency preparedness functions together.

Surrey Connect also lists $120 million for a new Green Timbers fire hall and $12 million for additional fire vehicles equipped for four-person crews. The party says these investments would strengthen emergency response as the city grows.

Another $2.5 million would expand assistance for people experiencing domestic violence, including access to safety resources and support services.

The platform’s separate commitment to hire 560 public safety personnel repeats a previously announced initiative that the party says is already funded.

For public parks and green space, Surrey Connect proposes $212 million in spending, including a combined $75 million for major expansions at Surrey Lake Park, Colebrook Park, and Bridgeview Waterfront Park. These projects would add outdoor recreation areas, trails, and places for people to gather.

Another $60 million would fund 12 new neighbourhood parks, while $40 million would go towards eight new sports fields to accommodate activities such as soccer, baseball, and cricket.

Existing parks would receive $20 million for improvements, such as better walking paths, washrooms, shelters, and accessibility. The party would also devote $15 million to planting trees along streets and in parks and other public spaces.

At Crescent Beach, the platform includes $1.5 million for a new lifeguard tower and park improvements.

The remaining $175 million in the main spending package would go towards streets, transportation, and improvements to the appearance of public spaces.

Surrey Connect proposes $50 million for residential road upgrades and measures to slow traffic, plus another $50 million to build new and improved bike lanes. A further $25 million would support pedestrian safety projects, including better crossings and improvements intended to reduce serious injuries. As well, $50 million would be set aside for landscaping and other works to improve the appearance of major streets and public spaces.

Beyond the main infrastructure package, the party is promising eight additional City-supported medical clinics. According to the platform, the first such clinic in Surrey City Centre has recruited doctors from as far away as the United Kingdom. The party notes that a second clinic is opening in Newton in 2027, with the eight additional locations proposed across Surrey if the party is re-elected.

Throughout the platform, Surrey Connect ties its proposed spending to the need for services and amenities to catch up with the jurisdiction’s rapid population growth.

All the while, future annual property taxes would be kept to a minimum, with a cap based on the rate of inflation. The party supports lower property tax increases, but not zero increases due to the need to provide new and improved taxes and infrastructure. This appears to be a critique of Doug McCallum’s Safe Surrey Coalition’s promise of having zero property tax increases over an entire four-year term if the former mayor is re-elected.

“While other parties are promising massive capital investments with the promise of no tax increases, Surrey Connect is making the investments our City needs while keeping taxes low. We’ve seen what no tax increases mean: cutting services, delaying or cancelling projects, and hidden taxes,” reads the platform.

Locke’s City Council slate includes incumbents Harry Bains, Gordon Hepner, Pardeep Kooner, and Rob Stutt, along with fresh faces Michael Dunn, Vera LeFranc, Rona Tepper, and Noemi Victorino.

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