Surrey Mayor McCallum pledges to deliver on campaign promises
The newly elected mayor says his team will introduce a motion at their first council meeting to approve every commitment.
SURREY · Newly elected Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum says his team will introduce a motion at their first council meeting to formally approve every commitment made during the campaign. In his first post-election interview, McCallum said he felt energized and ready to move forward on his platform. He confirmed his administration will proceed with purchasing a helicopter for local police. McCallum also said provincial NDP leader David Eby has agreed to the SkyTrain line connecting Surrey City Centre to Newton.
"Yes, we're gonna get, we made a commitment, every commitment that we made out there, we're gonna do," McCallum said on RED FM's Harjinder Thind Show on Monday. "We're gonna do a motion in our first council meeting to approve every one of those ones that we committed to doing in the election." He extended his thanks to voters and promised to listen to residents. "I will always listen to you. I will always develop our ideas in our great city based on what your concerns are," McCallum said.
Reflecting on his victory, McCallum said the people of Surrey remain his top priority and he will maintain an open-door policy. "I love Surrey and I love the people of Surrey. And so I'm really, really proud to be their mayor this time," he said. When asked about transit discussions, McCallum said his conversation with Eby was pleasant and covered many topics. "And yes, he has agreed to the SkyTrain between our city centre and Newton," McCallum said.
McCallum highlighted his political independence when asked how his transit agenda might be affected if the provincial Conservatives take office. "I'm non-political. I haven't gone to a political party for probably over 50 years. I've always worked with any government that's in there," he said. He expressed confidence that provincial transit support would continue regardless of which party forms government. "The Conservatives, I think, will also assure us that if they get in, they will build SkyTrain too," McCallum said.
With files from RED FM Canada