Surrey mayoral candidate promises a ‘Senakw-style’ housing partnership, no new casinos
In back-to-back announcements, Surrey mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk promised to both create a “Senakw-style partnership” for rental housing as well as create a ‘no new casino’ moratorium.
This is in the run-up to the Oct. 17 municipal election, where Starchuk is facing off against other Surrey mayoral candidates including Doug McCallum, Linda Annis, and incumbent mayor Brenda Locke.
On Sept. 30 — National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — Starchuk’s Imagine Surrey party promised to put City-owned land on the table for a rental community owned and led by First Nations. Surrey is on the lands of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, and Kwantlen nations.
“City Hall would bring the land, approvals, and the financing partners. The Nations would decide whether, where, and how,” reads the press release.
“I’ve worked with our local First Nations as a councillor and as an MLA,” said Starchuk. “As mayor, I want to build a stronger relationship and work in partnership, in the spirit of reconciliation.”
Imagine Surrey said that if any First Nation is interested in bringing forward a proposal to City Hall under an Imagine Surrey administration, they would find a “willing partner.”
Spring 2026 construction progress on the first phase of Senakw. (Westbank)
Imagine points to Senakw, the 10.5-acre reserve at the south end of Burrard Bridge in Vancouver, where Squamish Nation is currently building a historic purpose-built rental housing project. These lands were home to a village of the Squamish Nation until the government removed them in the early 20th century. In 2003, after a long legal battle, the 10.5-acre reserve at the south end of Burrard Bridge was officially created.
Out of four phases of development, the first of three towers near Vanier Park is complete, with residents starting to move in over the summer.
While this project is bringing much-needed rental supply to Vancouver’s housing market, providing an opportunity for wealth generation for the nation, and is a step towards reconciliation, it hasn’t been without some growing pains.
Since the initial design scope of Senakw was announced, people have debated its significant density and height, limited vehicle parking, and, most recently, the high rents in some of its units.
‘No new casinos’
On Oct. 1, Starchuk committed to “no new casinos” in Surrey.
In a press release, he said this moratorium would be a council resolution in the first 100 days.
“No City consent for any new casino, community gaming centre, or relocation of a gaming licence into Surrey; no new slot machines or table games anywhere in the city outside the existing casino in Cloverdale,” reads the Imagine Surrey press release.
The party said that they would have an updated gaming policy and send a request to the Province to respect it.
“A moratorium in writing means no future council gets to say yes quietly,” reads the release.
This resolution would also prevent the City from licensing crypto ATMs, tighten licensing for cash businesses, and keep payday lenders away from schools, community centres, and transit hubs.
“I spent 21 years as a social worker. I’ve seen what a gambling debt and a payday loan do to a family long after the money is gone,” said Margaret Mubanda, who is running for Surrey City Council for Imagine Surrey.
According to the World Health Organization, gambling can cause harm, including “financial stress, relationship breakdown, family violence, mental illness and suicide.”
The WHO states that population-wide interventions “can help prevent and reduce harm.” It says this includes having restrictions on access and availability, which includes opening hours and density, among other actions like ending advertising and promotions.
What about the existing casino in Surrey?
Elements Casino Surrey. (Great Canadian Entertainment)
The municipal party said they would restore the casino on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds as a year-round destination with consultation with the Semiahmoo and Kwantlen First Nations.
The Semiahmoo First Nation acquired the Elements Casino Surrey this spring, with the nation’s chief, Harley Chappell, saying that it “represents an important step forward in strengthening economic opportunity for Semiahmoo First Nation and reaffirming our presence within our traditional territory as a strong and capable business entity.”
“Through this new venture, we look forward to creating meaningful benefits for our people, supporting employment opportunities in the region, and contributing to the long-term well-being and prosperity of our community”
In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the B.C. Lottery Corporation reported that Elements Casino Surrey brought in $58.2 million in total revenue, including $49.2 million from slots and over $9 million from tables.
Calling on other mayoral candidates to do the same
Starchuk called on the other mayoral candidates to also commit to new casinos in Surrey.
“Silence is an answer. If a candidate won’t rule out a casino before the election, ask yourself why,” said Starchuk in the release.