May 11, 2005
SURREY – Surrey-area candidates are challenging NDP leader Carole James to support the BC Liberals’ plans for growth and progress in Surrey.
"Carole James claims that everyone matters, but the actions of her and her candidates clearly demonstrates that this doesn’t include the people of Surrey," said Kevin Falcon, Transportation Minister and BC Liberal candidate for Surrey-Cloverdale. "She and her party have waged a deliberate and continuous campaign against commitments made by the BC Liberals that have real, long-term benefits for Surrey, and it simply has to stop."
Falcon highlighted a number of projects that the NDP have either shown no support for or have rejected outright, including:
- A commitment to fast-track the expansion of hospital services in Surrey, including the potential expansion or replacement of Surrey Memorial Hospital.
- The Gateway Project, which includes twinning the Port Mann Bridge, widening Highway 1 from Langley to Vancouver, and the South Fraser Perimeter Road, which has $291 million budgeted over the next three years alone.
- Government budgets which have directed more than $200 million in additional funds to the Fraser Health Authority, and an increase of $927 dollars per student in Surrey’s K to 12 education system.
- $146 million in new capital improvements for Surrey schools – including eight new schools completed or approved since 2001.
- More than $200 million in additional transportation upgrades and projects in the Surrey area, including border infrastructure improvements, and four-laning parts of Highway 10 and Highway 15 in Surrey.
- The new $8.2 million Phoenix Centre for addictions in Whalley, through the Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness and Mental Addictions.
New housing and care for seniors, including The Gateway (60 units of assisted living) and Fleetwood Place and Villa (75 funded residential care units, plus 60 more opening this year).
- Investment in a $39-million Cloverdale Trades and Technology Centre of Kwantlen University College, and $70 million for a new Simon Fraser University Campus in Surrey to add 3,000 seats by 2010.
- Returning of 100 per cent in traffic fine revenues, which provided an additional $2.5 million for Surrey which was used to hire 41 new police officers.
- The Bait Car program which reduced auto thefts in Surrey by 22 per cent.
- The $250,000 grant for seating and washrooms at the Surrey Kabbadi field.
"This is the kind of attitude that caused a massive deficit in transportation, education, and health infrastructure under the NDP in the 1990s. They made promises to Surrey that they had no intention of keeping. Only the BC Liberals have a real vision for Surrey and for British Columbia," said Falcon. "Frankly, I want to know what Carole James and the NDP have against the people of Surrey. Why is she so negative, destructive, and pessimistic?"
