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🚎 FUND TRANSIT AS MUCH AS MASSEY REPLACEMENT?

Commuters who use the Massey Tunnel are still scratching their heads about when – or if – the tunnel will be replaced or at what cost (More than $8 billion seems to be the eventual number).

But the group Movement, which represents transit riders in Surrey and beyond, wants people to question if this money should be spent at all to encourage more driving instead of expanding transit.

B.C. is set to receive $3 billion from the feds to help replace the tunnel. By contrast, a similar agreement in Quebec will see $6 billion in funding spent on public transit.

• “One of these announcements will save families thousands by allowing them to avoid high gas prices and high car prices,” said Denis Agar, executive director of Movement. “It will also reduce pollution, reduce congestion, and make cities more competitive for global talent. The other is a highway tunnel.”

“Why is transit funding in B.C. getting passed over again? The last major new transit project funded in B.C. was in 2018 (This was the Surrey LRT which eventually became the Surrey Langley SkyTrain).”

Our population in Metro Vancouver has grown by 30 per cent in the past decade, but transit spending has not kept up.

It’s worth asking why.

🎬 VIDEO OF THE DAY

Congratulations to the Surrey athletes who were part of the Team Canada squad that just beat China 7-3 to win the Canada Cup International Softball Championship that was held in Surrey. Here you can watch the bomb Canada hit to seal the deal.

- Chris Campbell

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🚑 Health care

‘Lack of evidence’: Concerns raised about new involuntary care beds in Surrey

What's driving the news: Surrey is getting more involuntary-care beds funded by the B.C. government, but some advocates are concerned about the impact of forced care on people dealing with addictions issues.

The beds: The new 60-bed care facility at 6833/6869 King George Blvd. in Surrey will provide involuntary care and a range of specialized services to support people with complex mental-health and addictions care needs. This adds to beds recently opened at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre.

The site: The beds are located at the site of the former John Volken Academy, which was ordered closed previously by the province over concerns about mistreatment of those in care – a charge Volken vehemently denied.

The funding: Developed in collaboration with the province, Fraser Health, the Provincial Health Services Authority and local partners, the facility will be renovated into a secure mental-health and addictions care facility. Government has approved the business plan for the project. It has a budget of up to $57 million and is anticipated to open in spring 2028.

The concerns: The Canadian Mental Health Association has expressed concerns about involuntary care for people with addictions.

• “People with substance use disorder are the fastest growing population being detained under BC’s Mental Health Act, yet this is not commonly known,” said the CMHA BC. “This fact, along with the recent announcement, is concerning to CMHA BC, knowing that there is a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of involuntary treatment for people with substance use disorder, and that existing evidence actually suggests that involuntary treatment leads to an increased risk of death due to drug poisoning upon release. The reality is that we are already relying heavily on involuntary care without really examining whether it is effective.”

Mental Health Act: There are around 30,000 Mental Health Act apprehensions of around 20,000 individuals each year in B.C., which is the highest rate of all provinces in Canada, said the CMHA BC.

• “For those who have experienced involuntary care, there have been concerning accounts out of psychiatric wards across the province, including the inappropriate use of restraints and seclusion rooms, the coercive use of sedation and a lack of trauma-informed care that has led to further trauma,” said the CMHA BC.

The defence: The province has defended involuntary care as it tries to deal with the province’s toxic drug crisis. The creation of new designated mental-health services under the Mental Health Act is a key recommendation from Dr. Daniel Vigo, who was appointed B.C.’s first chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders in June 2024.

Surrey deaths: Surrey represents about 10 per cent of all unregulated drug deaths in B.C. – compared to 23 per cent in Vancouver – according to the latest provincial government numbers, but the numbers locally have dropped dramatically in 2026.

Numbers dropping: So far this year there have been 54 deaths in Surrey, which is well behind the pace of 2025 in which 178 people died and the peak of 282 in 2021. By comparison, 152 have died in Vancouver so far this year.

- Read the full story by Chris Campbell by hitting the button below

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🏩 Development

Public hearing set for Fleetwood's first high-rise residential tower proposal

Does not comply: A date for a public hearing has been set for what would be the Fleetwood neighbourhood’s first high-rise residential tower – a proposal that City of Surrey staff say does not comply with the Official Community Plan.

The location: The public hearing is set for July 27 for a proposal on a site at the corner of 152 Street and Fraser Highway, which is right on the path of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project.

The site is 430 metres from the location of the future 152 Street SkyTrain station and is currently a commercial property.

How many units? The development would be for a 31-storey mixed-use tower containing 358 residential units and 438 square metres of commercial space.

• “The proposed development does not comply with the Official Community Plan,” says a city staf report, “particularly in relation to the existing land use designation and maximum density. However, increased densities are generally supportable in this area and is reflective of nearby approved developments.”

Current designation: The subject site is located within Tier 2 of the city plans, which allows a building height up to 12 storeys.

• “Staff support the proposed development as it is generally consistent with applicable planning policies and contributes to housing supply and commercial opportunities in the Town Centre area.”

Bus routes: The subject site is located 47 metres from Fraser Highway, which has the following bus routes: Aldergrove/Surrey Central, Langley/Fleetwood/Surrey Centre, Langley Centre/King George Station and Langley Centre/Surrey Central Station.

Impact on schools: The School District has advised that there will be approximately 30 school-age children living in this development.

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🐴 Horse racing

Harness racing group ordered to pay $7K in bonuses it withheld after allegation

Penalty issued: A Surrey horse-racing organization has been ordered to pay more than $7,000 to a man who claims he was denied bonuses after filing a complaint against one of its staff members.

Tribunal ruling: Robert Chadwick told the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal that he was a founding member of the Harness Racing BC Society and was owed a breeder’s bonus. HRBC countered that Chadwick was not entitled to receive the bonuses because he was not a member in good standing.

Allegation made: It was Chadwick’s status that was in question after the society received an email from one of its employees, according to the CRT ruling.

• “The employee alleged that Mr. Chadwick told third parties that the employee had been involved in criminal activity that a former director had been charged with,” said the CRT ruling. “The employee asked HRBC to investigate what they described as harassment. Neither party provided any evidence about whether HRBC conducted an investigation or what steps it took to investigate the employee’s complaints.”

Apology demanded: Chadwick, however, was sent a “cease, desist and demand letter,” said the CRT ruling, requesting that Chadwick stop “making defamatory statements and provide a written apology.”

Membership denied: Following this, Chadwick sent in his membership renewal application. What followed was a society response that Chadwick said he never received about his membership status. Chadwick says he is still a member in good standing.

CRT decision: The CRT ruling agreed and said the society wasn’t fair in how it dealt with the situation.

• “While the HRBC says it determined that Mr. Chadwick made serious unsubstantiated allegations, on the evidence before me, there appears to have been little to no investigation to support this conclusion,” said the ruling. “As Mr. Chadwick was not provided an opportunity to respond, I find HRBC’s investigation process did not meet its obligation to provide Mr. Chadwick with a procedurally fair investigation.”

Chris Campbell file photo

📣 Politics

Mayor lashes out at councillors for making ‘unfounded’ allegations against the city

Mayor punches back: Mayor Brenda Locke unloaded on Surrey First Coun. and mayoral candidate Linda Annis and Safe Surrey Coalition Coun. Mandeep Nagra at Monday’s council meeting, saying they had been putting their campaigns for the upcoming October municipal elections before their duties as city councillors. 

• “It is completely unacceptable for elected officials to make unfounded allegations against city staff or spread misinformation in [an] attempt to shift political responsibility onto our professional staff, who are carrying out the lawful direction of this council,” Locke said. 

Code of conduct: Locke (pictured above announcing the arena deal) said council’s code of conduct includes “treat[ing] city staff with respect and refrain[ing] from conduct that brings the office into disrepute, and never make accusations that are not supported by facts.” 

The code states that councillors must accurately communicate council decisions, even if they disagree with the majority of council. Members must also refrain from making disparaging comments about other council members or decisions. 

Annis called out: Locke said Annis had told the media that the city’s finances were a “mess” and asked her to specify what evidence she has to support this statement. 

When the city announced a new $360M arena, Annis said Locke had put taxpayers “on the hook” to fund the project with no private sector funding. She also speculated the final cost would be much higher than the initial estimate. 

Annis responds: In a July 3 press release, Annis said Locke had paid $28 million over the assessed value of the arena site. In council, Annis said she would be submitting a statement to the city manager immediately as to what her intentions were.

However, in a July 14 press release, Annis said “Locke hates financial transparency and when she gets called out about her lack of financial common sense, she wants to point the finger at everyone but herself.” 

• “[The] city does have the responsibility to ensure a respectful and safe workplace for all of its employees … also a reminder to all council members that under our council code of conduct, council members must refrain from conduct that could be construed as bullying or harassing,” said city solicitor Philip Huynh.

Nagra called out: Locke also said Nagra had made “completely unfair” comments regarding the city's purchase of a 13.07-acre property on 152 Street for $6.8 million. City hall released a statement saying the negotiated price was supported by a third-party appraisal and about $1 million below appraised market value. Nagra had called for a police investigation into the purchase.

For more, read the full Aisha Chaudhry story below.

By the numbers: Intimate partner violence

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🚓 Crime

Cops seize 3D-printed weapons in Surrey

Three people were busted in Surrey and charged after police found attempts to make guns using a 3D printer.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia said charges have been approved against three individuals following an investigation that originated from the execution of a search warrant in September 2025.

CFSEU-BC and RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region investigators executed a search warrant in Surrey as part of an unrelated investigation.

During the search, officers seized the following:

• 3D printed Glock firearm parts including receivers, grips, gun magazines:

• 3D printer which was actively printing a firearm;

• Rail kits;

• Ammunition;

• Firearm barrels;

• GPS tracker;

• Loaded 3D printed firearm;

• Methamphetamine, MDMA and cutting agent

On July 6, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against the following individuals:

Scott William Telford, Bryce Scott Telford and Candice Ashley Somerville are charged with one count of possession of a firearm without the required licence or registration.

Bryce Scott Telford and Ashley Somerville are also charged with:

• Possession of a firearm with readily accessible ammunition, without the required licence or registration

• Unauthorized manufacturing of a firearm

• Possession of computer data capable of being used with a 3D printer for the purpose of manufacturing or trafficking a firearm

• Illegal possession of a firearm for the purpose of transferring it or offering to transfer it

• Possession of methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) for the purposes of trafficking

• Possession of methamphetamine for the purposes of trafficking

Both Telfords are in custody and a warrant for arrest has been issued for Somerville.

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