Re: Surrey Civic Coalition (SCC) agreeing that Surrey and other local governments should consider online voting.
Letter writer Ms. Ryan seems to want a referendum on all sorts of issues in her letter published Jan. 20. By all accounts, this mayor and council has had more public input and discussion than any Surrey municipal government in memory.
There is no question that referenda can be a very effective method of voter participation under the right circumstances but elections come only once every three years. This council has worked hard to solicit input from the public on an ongoing basis for such issues as public transit, infrastructure development, parks and other funding priorities.
With respect to the issue of Bear Creek Park and the extension of 84 Avenue, let’s get the facts straight. It was Bob Bose (SCC), chair of the transportation committee who brought the issue of extending a road through Bear Creek Park, not the mayor and Surrey First. In fact the mayor has been on record for years in opposition to the extension of 84 Avenue.
For Ms. Ryan to now try and say it was SCC who led the opposition to this is simply not true. When Coun. Bose and the transportation committee brought the issue to council there was indeed vocal opposition to it including the mayor and a majority of councilors. The issue clearly didn’t need a referendum to decide the proper course of action.
We do need to get more participation in local government and looking at the idea of online voting is a progressive step in that direction. Calling for a referendum on everything from road extensions to TransLink, while distorting the facts for political gain, only pushes more people away.
Bruce Hayne
