Surrey mayor pledges to approve all campaign commitments at first council meeting
The newly elected mayor says his council will introduce a motion to formally approve every platform promise.
SURREY — Newly elected Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum says his council will introduce a motion at its first meeting to formally approve every commitment from his campaign.
"Yes, we're gonna get, we made a commitment, every commitment that we made out there, we're gonna do," McCallum said Monday in his first post-election interview on RED FM's Harjinder Thind Show.
"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."
READ MORE: Candidates in Ottawa's Kitchissippi ward debate transit, safety and housing
READ MORE: Hamilton council candidate opposes data centres, pledges housing and transit reforms
McCallum, fresh off his municipal election victory, expressed high energy and gratitude during the interview.
He said he felt surprisingly energized and eager to move forward with the vision his platform set out.
"I just want to especially thank and from the bottom of my heart, all the residents that got out and voted," McCallum said.
He emphasized that the people of Surrey remain his top priority.
"I will always listen to you. I will always develop our ideas in our great city based on what your concerns are," he said.
"I love Surrey and I love the people of Surrey. And so I'm really, really proud to be their mayor this time."
When questioned about whether his administration planned to purchase a helicopter for local police, McCallum confirmed that the acquisition will move forward.
He also discussed transit infrastructure with NDP leader David Eby, specifically the SkyTrain line proposed by him connecting Surrey City Centre through Newton.
"Yeah, I had a good conversation with him, actually. And it was very pleasant. And we talked about a lot of things... and yes, he has agreed to the SkyTrain between our city centre and Newton," McCallum said.
When asked how his transit agenda might be affected if the provincial Conservatives were to take office, McCallum highlighted his long-standing political independence.
"Well, I think they too will... you know, 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 full 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.
He promised to maintain an open-door policy throughout his upcoming four-year term.
With files from RED FM Canada