Recent history suggests incumbents aren’t likely to seek re-election in Surrey-Panorama.
Jagrup Brar was the riding’s MLA from 2003-09 when it was known as Surrey-Panorama Ridge, but when the boundaries were adjusted to include more of the South Surrey and Cloverdale areas, he moved to (and won) the new Surrey-Fleetwood riding.
Stephanie Cadieux pulled the riding back into the Liberal camp in 2009, defeating NDP candidate Debbie Lawrance with 54.3 per cent of the vote.
But Cadieux is now looking to accomplish a similar move as Brar, putting her name forward as the B.C. Liberal candidate in Surrey-Cloverdale (incumbent Liberal MLA Kevin Falcon is not running this time around), and leaving it up to Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt to keep the Surrey-Panorama seat for the party.
Hunt will be up against B.C. NDP candidate Amrik Mahil, who is the president of Blacktop Cabs.
Sara Sharma, owner of her own business and a real estate agent, has won the B.C. Green party nomination.
The B.C. Conservative candidate is Kevin Rakhra,. a 28 year-old Auxiliary RCMP member fluent in English, Punjabi and Hindi.
Independent Ali Zaidi is also running in the riding.
Surrey-Panorama is a family-oriented community. Only six other constituencies have fewer residents living alone, and only seven have more people living in owner-occupied dwellings.
A fast-growing area of Surrey, it is also the riding in which people are the least likely to walk or bike to work.
One-third of Surrey-Panorama residents are immigrants. Most newcomers are from India and are living in a riding where 40 per cent of the population does not speak English as a first language.
Surrey-Panorama fast facts:
• 2011 Population: 68,995
• 2006 population: 51,670
• Increase: 33.5 per cent
• Median age: 37.9
• Non-English mother tongue: 40%
• Average income: $67,675
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-Panorama:
MARVIN HUNT, B.C. LIBERALS
1. Name, education, and residence: Marvin Hunt, 61, bachelor degree. I have worked in Surrey-Panorama for 34 years and lived in the riding for 27 years. Currently, I live in Fleetwood.
2. Why should people vote for you?
I have had the awesome privilege of serving the citizens of Surrey as a city councillor for 22 years. During those years, we have kept taxes low while attracting thousands of jobs to our city.
In fact, Surrey has the lowest residential taxes and the second lowest business taxes in Metro Vancouver.
During this global downturn, I want to use my experience in Surrey to help the province keep taxes low while attracting current and future jobs to this province. I want to take the spirit of cooperation that we have on Surrey council to Victoria to find creative solutions for the challenges we face.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
The top three local issues are jobs, education and transportation. In partnership with Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Fraser Health Authority and others, we can build research and innovation centres to create the jobs of the future.
But students south of the Fraser must first have more school construction and greater access to our Universities.
TransLink must be restructured with directors who are elected and accountable and given the power to raise the necessary resources.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
Provincially, the economy is the top priority. We must work at attracting more jobs to this province while keeping the size of government in check. The new B.C. Liberals have a plan to build the economy. Then we will have the needed resources to spend on health care and education.
AMRIK MAHIL, B.C. NDP
1. Name, education, and residence:
Amrik Mahil, 55 years old. Education: civil engineering, Hatfield University and Cranfield Institute of Technology. I currently reside in the Surrey-Panorama riding, in the Panorama neighbourhood. I have lived in Surrey for 28 years.
2. Why should people vote for you?
I understand small/medium business needs and pressures, as well as the pressures of raising a family. I live in the heart of the riding and converse with neighbours daily, listening to their struggles and successes. With experience being a spokesperson and chair of the Vancouver Taxi Association, I am able to communicate and find resolution to key issues on the behalf of others.
I believe in integrity, sincerity and honesty.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
I am very concerned about the state of education in Surrey – primary, secondary and post-secondary. The lack of physical spaces for education to take place in and class size and availability of classes is far lower than the needs of this growing community. Almost every public school has mobile classrooms and teacher resources are spread too thin. Post-secondary space is also lacking. Kwantlen and Surrey SFU have space to grow their programs, however no financial backing. Trades training opportunities are also scarce. I support Adrian Dix’s plan to create a $100-million grant program so students can have greater access to education and skills training.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
The opportunity for young families is the issue that touches me the most. I know I was not able to find employment in my chosen area of study; however I was able to make a living and raise a family as a middle-class Canadian. It is becoming harder for families now. With fewer opportunities to earn solid income and the higher costs of housing, food, child and senior care are creating a greater inequality gap in all areas of B.C.
KEVIN RAKHRA, B.C. CONSERVATIVES
1. Name, education, and residence:
Kevin Rakhra, 28 years old, presently completing two bachelors of technology in forensic investigation; associate of arts degree; advanced specialty certificates in forensic investigation; certificate in incident command; RCMP Tier 1 training.
2. Why should people vote for you?
I have been a dedicated volunteer in my community for more than seven years, serving in law enforcement at a federal, provincial and municipal level to ensure public safety is maintained. I have been a volunteer auxiliary constable with the RCMP or seven years.
My commitment to serving others and ensuring we have a better future is why people should vote for me. I have accomplished a great deal at 28 years of age and I wish to do even more. If elected I vow to bring transparency to the legislature. By electing me, we can take the first step to help grow our economy, address our social needs and bring positive growth to Surrey-Panorama.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
The two primary areas of concern are the economy and public safety. We must have a true free enterprise government to address our lack of economic development. By allowing expansion of our natural resources and opening up B.C. to other markets we can address our concerns. Also we need to ensure budgets are transparent and by having an audit of expenditures we can see where finances of hard-working taxpayers are being misused.
Secondly, the four bodies found in Surrey-Panorama on Colebrook Road is of great concern. There are clearly problems that must be addressed before the situation grows even worse.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
We must address our deficiencies in many sectors, from the stagnant economy, to accessibly heath care, to the revolving door of justice. But none of this can be done unless we have the fiscal capacity; that is why accountability and transparency are of the utmost importance.
SARA SHARMA, B.C. GREENS
1. Name, education, and residence:
Sara Sharma born on July 4, 1963.
2. Why should people vote for you?
I am an entrepreneur, real estate agent and the owner of a group daycare centre. I am a great listener; raising children, owning my own business and marketing properties for living, I think, shows that I have what it takes to run for political office. I have volunteered at PAC and Minor Hockey League. I am a conservative Green and as your future MLA I would promote job creation, a tax shift to long-term needs and not just short term Band-aids, and improve transportation and education.
3. What are the most significant issues facing your riding and what would you do about them?
Residents are asking for a balanced budget and more efficient government. Voters are frustrated with the government’s misuse of resources (ethnic vote scandal) and lack of coherent environmental policies. We have a great province, it is not just a province or corporation, it is a province of people, young, old, rich, and poor and we all deserve to have our voice heard.
4. What are the most significant issues facing B.C. and what would you do about them?
Today’s political climate is changing from local and national concerns to global ones. This of course does not mean that we’re no longer interested in our neighbourhoods, but we are increasingly taking the larger picture into account. We want our children and grandchildren to live well and in a secure environment. For this we need to think globally. The Green party is the only political organization that really addresses this. We need to be aware of the impact we are having on the environment, but we also need to be cognizant of the affect the environment has on us. I do care about the future of my child, I care about the future of my community and I deeply care about the future of our species. I pledge to educate myself about the issues, I pledge to educate you about the issues and I pledge to work to resolve the issues.
I am here to make the world better now and for generations to come.
ALI ZAIDI, INDEPENDENT
If Ali Zaidi responds to a Leader request to participate in answering our questionnaire, the information will be added to this riding profile.
SURREY-PANORAMA: If you live within these boundaries, this is your riding:
