Doug McCallum discusses his first 55 days as Mayor of Surrey

It has been a busy 55 days since Doug McCallum was elected as Mayor of Surrey. Since then, Mayor McCallum has promised to get rid of the RCMP and implement a municipal police force and do away with the planned LRT in favour of a much desired SkyTrain system.

However, the 55 days haven’t been without controversy. RCMP Constable Marcus Pickett wrote an open letter to Mayor McCallum saying that his plan to switch to a municipal police force is a bad idea.

Additionally, the city’s draft budget has many Surrey residents upset. The proposed budget includes a 2.9-per-cent tax increase and cuts to planned community infrastructure projects that total nearly $136 million. Set to be put on pause are ice rinks in Cloverdale, plans for community centre and library expansions, a child-care project, policing infrastructure, parks and cultural amenities, among other things. These cuts have many residents angry and feeling like promises are being broken by the newly elected Mayor. Here is Mike Bola, President of the Cloverdale Community Association…

Finally, tossing out LRT in favour of an extended Skytrain system has not been the smooth sailing for the Mayor. Provincial politicians and local mayors remain skeptical over Mayor McCallum’s plan to build Skytrain out to Langley within the proposed budget of $1.6 billion. Here is Premier John Horgan discussing Surrey’s Skytrain plans…

Guest: Doug McCallum

Mayor of Surrey

It has been a busy 55 days since Doug McCallum was elected as Mayor of Surrey. Since then, Mayor McCallum has promised to get rid of the RCMP and implement a municipal police force and do away with the planned LRT in favour of a much desired SkyTrain system.

However, the 55 days haven’t been without controversy. RCMP Constable Marcus Pickett wrote an open letter to Mayor McCallum saying that his plan to switch to a municipal police force is a bad idea.

Additionally, the city’s draft budget has many Surrey residents upset. The proposed budget includes a 2.9-per-cent tax increase and cuts to planned community infrastructure projects that total nearly $136 million. Set to be put on pause are ice rinks in Cloverdale, plans for community centre and library expansions, a child-care project, policing infrastructure, parks and cultural amenities, among other things. These cuts have many residents angry and feeling like promises are being broken by the newly elected Mayor. Here is Mike Bola, President of the Cloverdale Community Association…

Finally, tossing out LRT in favour of an extended Skytrain system has not been the smooth sailing for the Mayor. Provincial politicians and local mayors remain skeptical over Mayor McCallum’s plan to build Skytrain out to Langley within the proposed budget of $1.6 billion. Here is Premier John Horgan discussing Surrey’s Skytrain plans…

Guest: Doug McCallum

Mayor of Surrey