Fact Check Surrey

$600 BACK IN YOUR POCKET?

Surrey mayoral candidate Honveer Randhawa is proposing a $600 reduction in residential property taxes, followed by a four-year freeze on residential property taxes if his team is elected.

The campaign says the $600 reduction would bring residential property taxes back to approximately their 2022 level. It says the plan would be funded through measures including a forensic audit of City Hall spending and changes to city operations.

The proposal would affect residential property taxes in Surrey not other parts of your property-tax bill.

Would a $600 cut make a real difference for your household?

More than 1,300 people came together at an event organized by Mr. Kanwar in support of Honveer Randhawa’s campaign for Mayor.

The turnout brought together supporters, community members and campaign team members a powerful show of energy and support for Honveer’s vision for Surrey.

With Surrey continuing to grow, local leadership matters more than ever. Events like this show that people are paying attention and getting involved.

Were you surprised to see 1,300+ people come out for Honveer Randhawa?

A new gambling debate is heating up in Surrey ahead of the October 17 municipal election.

Imagine Surrey mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk is calling for no new casinos in Surrey, describing it as part of his plan to address money laundering and financial crime. The party’s published platform also calls for tougher licensing of cash businesses and crypto ATMs, as well as stronger restrictions on predatory payday lending.

The campaign says it would seek a city moratorium on new casinos and other gaming expansions if elected.

Starchuk is also challenging the other major mayoral candidates Brenda Locke, Doug McCallum and Linda Annis to state their positions on new casinos.

One important fact-check: we could confirm Starchuk/Imagine Surrey’s “no new casinos” commitment, but we could not independently verify that Locke, McCallum or Annis have refused to comment or declined to make the same commitment. That part should be treated as a campaign claim unless their responses are documented.

Surrey voters will decide on October 17, 2026.

What do you think should every Surrey mayoral candidate be asked the same question about new casinos?

Could Surrey families see lower water bills?

Honveer Randhawa says yes.

Surrey mayoral candidate Honveer Randhawa is proposing a city-funded water-meter program that would mean no installation cost for homeowners.

The goal? Up to 50% lower household water bills by helping residents pay based on the water they actually use.

Surrey already says metered households save an average of 47% compared with flat-rate billing, although savings vary depending on water use.

Honveer’s proposal would make water meters more accessible by having the City cover the installation cost.

Lower bills. Fairer billing. Less upfront cost for homeowners.

Would you support city-funded water meters in Surrey?

Surrey’s $360-million downtown arena is becoming a major issue in the 2026 municipal election but some of the numbers being discussed need context.

Here’s what the public record shows:

🏟️ The City of Surrey estimates the arena’s net cost at $360 million.

💰 The City says the project is anticipated to generate $2.4 billion in economic benefits over 10 years. That is a projection, not guaranteed revenue.

🏙️ The arena site is being acquired through a land exchange involving three City-owned properties.

🔒 Council discussed the arena project in closed meetings before the City later released voting information.

📊 Imagine Surrey has proposed keeping property-tax increases at or below inflation for four years. That is a campaign commitment, not an existing City policy.

📍 And one more important detail: this is a Surrey story not Vancouver.

With the October 17 municipal election approaching, it’s worth separating documented numbers from campaign arguments.

What part of the arena deal do you want us to fact-check next?

A 42-year-old woman has died following a collision involving a commercial fuel tanker in downtown Nanaimo Wednesday morning.

Nanaimo RCMP said emergency crews responded to the Co-op Gas Bar on Victoria Crescent around 6:45 a.m. Police allege the loaded gasoline tanker was backing into the parking lot when it struck the woman, who was seated or lying near the curb.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the circumstances of the collision and working to notify her next of kin.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has video from the area is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP.

Coquitlam RCMP say a Tesla driver was found “sound asleep” behind the wheel while the vehicle’s autopilot feature was activated.

Members of the Integrated Road Safety Unit responded to a report and found the driver sleeping. Police said the driver held a novice licence and was ticketed for driving without due care and attention and failing to display an “N” sign.

B.C. prohibits drivers from using highly automated self-driving features on vehicles equipped with them. Police have issued several recent reminders after similar incidents involving drivers sleeping while their vehicles were moving.

A northern B.C. hunter has been fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to killing a caribou outside the legal hunting season.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said a mature bull caribou was discovered along Jade Boulder Road near Dease Lake during a remote ATV patrol. The area was closed to hunting at the time.

Julian Starr pleaded guilty to killing wildlife when it was not in open season, violating B.C.’s Wildlife Act. The sentence also included forfeiture of the caribou and other conditions.

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation will receive $4,999 of the penalty. Conservation officers also thanked the Tahltan Nation for assisting with the investigation and reminded hunters to follow all hunting regulations.

Four people were arrested after Vancouver police responded to reported gunfire from a boat in False Creek on Sunday evening.

Police said they were told someone aboard the Night Shadow may have fired a gun equipped with a suppressor into the water. Officers and the Emergency Response Team boarded the vessel around 6 p.m. and arrested four people.

Following a warrant-authorized search, police said they seized a chrome handgun, gun parts, an extended magazine, several suppressors, and suspected crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl. Police also reported finding drug-processing equipment and supplies.

Charges are pending and the investigation remains ongoing.

Surrey Police Service says 26-year-old Skylar Wayne Pelletier, described as a high-risk s*x offender, is being released into Surrey and will live at an undisclosed facility approved by his bail supervisor.

Police say Pelletier has a history of violent and s*xual offences, including convictions for s*xual assault, assault and break-and-enter. His release conditions include no contact with previous victims or their relatives and restrictions on entering areas connected to victims and witnesses.

Pelletier will also be subject to a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, electronic monitoring and a prohibition on alcohol, drugs and weapons. SPS is asking anyone who witnesses an alleged breach of his conditions to call 911.