The B.C. NDP’s Jagrup Brar will be seeking a third full term as MLA, but just the second in Surrey-Fleetwood.
He was first elected in a 1993 byelection in Surrey-Panorama, and was re-elected two years later.
In 2009, he moved over the to new Surrey-Fleetwood riding, and topped the polls with 50 per cent of the vote.
Jagmohan Singh of the Liberals was second, with 38.9 per cent.
Brar, a 10-year veteran, will seek another four years as an MLA on May 14, but will be challenged by Peter Fassbender, the current mayor of Langley City for close to a decade who will carry the B.C. Liberal banner in the riding.
Fassbender, elected as mayor of Langley City in 2005, 2008 and 2011, does not live in Surrey-Fleetwood but is a graduate of Queen Elizabeth Secondary.
Murali Krishnan, employed as a notary public and an insurance agent in Surrey, is running for the BC Conservatives, while the B.C. Green party has nominated engineer manager Tim Binnema as its candidate. Both will have a huge, uphill battle to take the riding, as the Greens and Conservatives combined garnered just 10.9 per cent of the vote in 2009.
Rounding out the race is B.C. Vision candidate Avrin Kumar.
Residents in Surrey-Fleetwood are a stable group, as only one constituency in the province has a lower rate of people (according to the 2006 census) that lived outside British Columbia five years earlier.
The number of divorced or separated people is also well below the provincial average, and surpassed by just two other electoral districts.
It is among several other Surrey constituencies as an area of British Columbia where people are least likely to walk or bike to work, or to live alone.
Fleetwood fast facts:
• 2011 Population: 56,550
• 2006 population: 49,885
• Increase: 13.3 %
•Median age: 38.4
•Non-English mother tongue: 52%
•Average annual income: $70,769
WE ASKED THEM
The Leader asked local candidates in the May 14 provincial election to respond to the following questions:
1. What is your name, age, education and neighbourhood of residence?
2. Why should people vote for you?
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
Here are the responses from the candidates for Surrey-Fleetwood:
JAGRUP BRAR, B.C. NDP (Incumbent)
Name, education, and residence: Jagrup Brar, age 55, masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba. Lives in Panorama.
2. Why should people vote for you?
The past 12 years under the B.C. Liberals has become less affordable for B.C. families. I am an immigrant father; with my wife and two young children and share the same concerns as those I hear on the doorsteps of my constituents.
B.C. Liberal tax policies have disproportionately benefited the rich people and they have had more fees implemented on middle class people such as doubling of the MSP, increasing ICBC rates, increasing hydro fees, bridge tolls... etc.
During my first week in the legislature I was able to raise the very important issue of the lack of health care services for the people of Surrey. I was able to move the government (being an opposition MLA) to commit $28 million for the improvement of Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room. I was also successful in forcing the government to finally build the Jim Pattison outpatient hospital.
Last January, I accepted and completed the MLA Welfare Challenge. I lived on $610, the welfare rate for a single employable person. There are 800,000 people living below the poverty line in this province and 130,000 of them are children. As a result of my experience I am better able to advocate for these people.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
Education is a big issue. Surrey for many years has needed more schools to reduce overcrowding in classrooms.
I have fought for a long time for practical solutions to the classroom shortages and will continue that fight if elected.
With increasing population in Surrey we also need to keep the issue of health care a top priority.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
The economy and jobs is the number-one issue and making sure our workers have the education required to take jobs coming to B.C. Through increased skills training, many high-paying jobs of the future will be available.
PETER FASSBENDER, B.C. LIBERALS
Name, education, and residence: My name is Peter Fassbender, I am 66 with two sons and three grandsons. My first memories are growing up on 102 Avenue and Old Yale Road in Surrey. I now live in Uplands neighbourhood and serve as Langley’s mayor and always at home South of the Fraser.
2. Why should people vote for you?
It’s easy to make promises but I am the one candidate that has a proven track record of delivering results that matter. I believe in integrated health care and not just illness treatment; I fought for efficiency gains in law enforcement to ensure that policing costs don’t crowd out the social services, educational and recreational programs that are the key to crime prevention. As an entrepreneur I have grown businesses and brought that knowledge into civic government.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
Priorities for Surrey are an economy that delivers stable well-paying jobs, sustainable healthcare, public safety, a strong education system and a clean environment. People worry that government is losing touch with these issues and common sense solutions to solve them. As an entrepreneur, school board trustee, environmental activist and charity board member I have worked hard on these priorities and brought them into civic government, and intend to take the next step and fight for Surrey’s needs in Victoria.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
B.C. has never had so much rich potential at our fingertips, and so many dangers at our gates. How we handle decisions these next few years will determine whether B.C. is prosperous, confident and successful, or a have-not province where neither the people nor their government can pay their bills. I have seen how good ideas fall by the wayside because of a breakdown of communication between government and its citizens, and I am committed to rebuilding that bridge so that we are all on the same page on the priorities and solutions.
MURALI KRISHNAN, B.C. CONSERVATIVES
Name, education, and residence: Murali Krishnan, age 57 years old, bachelor of science degree in physics. I have been a resident of Surrey-Fleetwood for the last 17 years.
2. Why should people vote for you?
I have been an active resident in the community as a PAC president of the Johnston Heights Secondary School, regular participant at the Guildford Recreation Centre in physical activities, an insurance agent who gives advice on all insurance matters, and an exceptional service as a notary public in the Fleetwood community.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
I have been talking to people in my neighbourhood and the most significant issues are related to health, crime, special needs children and transportation. We have the feedback from the people in the riding and each issues needs to compared and equated to the resources available to satisfy the needs. There might be situations which will require immediate resolutions, such as more funding and manpower. I believe that our leader Mr. John Cummins has the best interest for our province and has selected the best candidates to support him to achieve all his goals and desires.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
The most significant issues facing B.C. right now is debt reduction, health care, crime and transportation. B.C. has the opportunity to generate more money through tourism. We have the best universities in the world, where we could attract a lot of foreign students to generate the revenue. Mining can be expanded and all closed mills should be opened up to generate job and to stimulate economic growth.
TIM BINNEMA, B.C. GREENS
Name, education, and residence: Tim Binnema, 50, employed as manager of engineering, Father of four, Surrey resident since 1990, Fleetwood since 2000.
2. Why should people vote for you?
My experience in business gives me the leadership skills required to collaborate with the other MLAs and advocate for the needs of my community.
The Green party wants to set a new direction in leadership, one that considers how decisions impact our children and their children’s ability to flourish. Principles of sustainability and social justice align with my own and are the bedrock on which the Green party platform is built. Thinking long term and putting people first will impact how I, if elected as MLA, will evaluate any policies the government seeks to put into law.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
Education. B.C. needs leadership that respects our teachers and empowers those responsible for educating our children.
Transportation. The Green party of B.C.’s policies support the most economically efficient systems for the movement of goods and people. This, together with a framework that supports local businesses, will result in more jobs closer to home.
Safety. Strengthening arts, culture and sport helps build stronger communities while giving youth creative outlets to keep them engaged in society and away from the criminal element.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
Relations with First Nations. Our ability to form mutually a beneficial relationship with B.C.’s First Nations’ population is symbolic (symptomatic) of our ability to responsibly deal with the management of all our human and natural capital. I would make this a priority.
Health care is the single greatest cost attributed to the province. A focus on preventative medicine and a restructuring of how health care is administered will result in lower overall costs.
Resource management. See www.greenparty.bc.ca to learn how the B.C. Green party would manage resources.
ARVIN KUMAR, B.C. VISION
Name, education, and residence: Arvin Kumar, born in famous City of Suva, Fiji Islands. I am 35 years old.I finished my education in Rishikul Sanatan College. Raised by humble family. I have lived in Surrey since 2005 with my wife and two kids.
2. Why should people vote for you?
We need a party that will listen to people and their concerns and I beleive B.C. Vision can do this. As a new party we need a change in the system and not just false promises. A vote for B.C. Vision is a vote for a positive change – a change that will give our children a beautiful and prosperous future that we all envision.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
One of the major issue in my riding is education. There are overcrowded schools and lack of funding for school programs. The other most significant issues include health care and bridge tolls, lack of up-to-date transportation, and poverty. Funding shouldn't even be a factor; that is "smart spending." Studies have shown that childhood obesity is a huge issue and we need more family focused events in Surrey that will keep everyone active. We require immediate resolutions and job creation to resolve health care problems.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
The most significant issues facing B.C are education, health care, deficit budget, waste of resources, worsening traffic, high unemployment.
My solution will be uniting everyone and creating more jobs. Funding provided for schools and health care. Deficit-free B.C. and sound economy. Will use recycling projects, technology to reduce waste. Focus on multiple skilled development projects.
SURREY-FLEETWOOD: If you live within these boundaries, this is your riding:
