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Starchuk, Imagine Surrey take aim at ‘status quo’ as full council slate revealed
4-10-2026
With firefighters at his side and a full team of candidates behind him, mayoral hopeful Mike Starchuk officially launched Imagine Surrey’s 2026 campaign Tuesday night—delivering a message centered on public safety, transit expansion, and a direct challenge to what he called City Hall’s “same old players.”
Addressing a packed crowd of over 700 people, the former Surrey Fire Prevention Officer, councillor, and MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale framed the election as a clear choice between entrenched politics and a new, frontline-driven approach to leadership.
“What’s going on at City Hall?” Starchuk asked. “We’re stuck in the same old fights with the same old players. There are only two paths forward—more of the same, or a team that can move this city ahead.”
The event also introduced two new council candidates: Perminder Chohan, CEO of Lifewise Financial Group and longtime Surrey resident, and Chandan Chahal, a Fleetwood-based entrepreneur and small business owner active in the Bhangra music community. They join a slate that includes William Li, Kevin Wilkie, Narima Dela Cruz, Yousef Aldabainah, Ashiyana Hanif, and Dr. Margaret Mubanda.
"Our slate looks like Surrey," Starchuk said. "We are not career politicians. We are frontline workers, professionals, and public servants who quietly fight for this city every single day — and we are no longer going to be quiet."
Starchuk did not hold back in his criticism of political rivals. He warned against a potential return of former mayor Doug McCallum, citing past decisions on staffing, service levels, and land sales. He also criticized current Mayor Brenda Locke over spending tied to the police transition debate and recent budget decisions, arguing they have strained public finances without improving safety.
Councillor Linda Annis drew pointed remarks as well, with Starchuk questioning her policy reversals on transit and raising concerns about proposed cost-cutting measures and their impact on frontline services.
Public safety formed the backbone of his platform. Starchuk pledged to treat ongoing extortion concerns as a full-scale emergency, committing to regular public briefings and increased investment in policing resources, including surveillance technology and specialized units. He also highlighted gaps in fire services, noting Surrey’s lower firefighter-to-area ratio compared to Vancouver, and promised minimum staffing levels across all apparatus.
On transit, the campaign outlined plans to upgrade the R6 RapidBus into a full Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor from Newton to Scott Road Station, alongside a new BRT route connecting Surrey City Centre to South Surrey via Guildford. The long-term goal: build a network that supports future SkyTrain expansion.
Affordability and community access were also key themes. Proposals include cutting recreation fees for seniors by half, eliminating “Super Senior” surcharges, and offering free swim lessons for children under five. The party also committed to building three new community centres and introducing a Building permit concierge system with guaranteed timelines and fee reductions if deadlines are missed.
Looking ahead, Imagine Surrey signaled ambitions to bring major international events to the city, including bids for the 2032 World Police and Fire Games and the 2036 Commonwealth Games.
“Imagine a mayor who works collaboratively with all levels of government—and focuses on results, not politics,” Starchuk said.
Surrey voters head to the polls in October 2026.
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