Mayor Brenda Locke releases her top priorities during her swearing in ceremony
Darpan News Desk City of Surrey, 08 Nov, 2022 04:31 PM
Surrey, B.C. - The new Surrey City Council was sworn in during an inauguration ceremony on Monday night at City Hall.
Mayor Brenda Locke outlined her top priorities as she begins her 4-year term. Mayor Locke's vision and commitment to residents is to ensure transparency, restore public engagement, and maintain Surrey RCMP as the police of jurisdiction.
"Surrey deserves a Council that values public input, delivers on promises and above all else, is ethical and transparent," said Mayor Brenda Locke. "Restoring integrity and public engagement will be the focus of my work every step of the way. My immediate priorities are maintaining Surrey RCMP as the police of jurisdiction, ensuring extensive public input on the city's budget, strengthening the independence of the Ethics Commissioner and creating a stronger role for youth in our city. All voices will be heard and I look forward to working with all the residents of Surrey."
1. Maintaining Surrey RCMP as the police of jurisdiction
Work has already begun to maintain Surrey RCMP as the police of jurisdiction for the City, including producing a report outlining the plan. When complete, this plan will be released publicly for all to see.
1. Public Consultation on the City Budget
Seeking community input on the City of Surrey's Financial Plan will be a top focus and priority. Opportunities will be made available for residents to provide input and feedback in each of the City's town centres.
1. Strengthening the Office of the Ethics Commissioner
The City of Surrey Ethics Commissioner will be strengthened to ensure independence and transparency.
Health Canada officials, who gave a briefing on the condition they not be named publicly, said that would help the government refine the program before hiring a company to do the work. The Liberals committed to some form of federal dental-care coverage for low-income Canadians in its March confidence and supply agreement with the New Democrats.
The fiscal update, to be presented in the House of Commons, will also share the government's outlook for an economy facing high inflation and staring down a potential recession in the coming months.
The incoming storm is also expected to deluge parts of Metro Vancouver, including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, with more than 100 millimetres of rain before it eases late Sunday and the weather office says rainfall warnings are likely to be issued as the forecasts are refined.
Dental care is a pillar of the supply and confidence deal between the Liberals and the NDP. The Liberals promised to launch a federal dental care insurance program by the end of 2022, starting with coverage for children from low- and middle-income families.
Under the bail conditions, Polman is prohibited from possessing a cellphone or any other device capable of connecting to the internet, and from driving any motorized vehicle. She cannot possess any documents related to a terrorist group or leave B.C. without the consent of her bail supervisor, and she must be electronically monitored and abide by a 9 p.m. curfew.
The report, which looked at data from more than 4,750 food banks and community organizations, said the skyrocketing cost of food and housing, as well as high inflation and lowsocial assistance rates, have contributed to the rise in food bank usage. Kirstin Beardsley, the CEO of Food Banks Canada, called the numbers "devastating."