Imagine Surrey fills out slate of candidates, pledges fee cut

Imagine Surrey officially launched its 2026 municipal election campaign on Tuesday night, unveiling its full slate of candidates to “challenge the status quo under the same old players and parties at Surrey City Hall.”

Mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk — Surrey’s retired Chief Fire Prevention Officer, former city councillor, and former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale — introduced the party’s eight council candidates alongside a team of firefighters.

The event confirmed the full Imagine Surrey slate, including two final city council candidates announced for the first time: Perminder Chohan and Chandan Chahal. They join a team that also includes William Li, Kevin Wilkie, Narima Dela Cruz, Yousef Aldabainah, Ashiyana Hanif, and Dr. Margaret Mubanda.

“Our slate looks like Surrey,” said Starchuk. “We are not career politicians. We are frontline workers, professionals, and public servants who quietly fight for this city every single day — and we are no longer going to be quiet.”

Chohan, a Surrey resident for 34 years, is president and CEO of Lifewise Financial Group, and past director of the Surrey Board of Trade.

Chahal is a Fleetwood resident who owns two local UPS franchises and is deeply involved in the Bhangra music community.

Starchuk drew sharp contrasts with his three major opponents, arguing that Surrey cannot afford to recycle the same leaders who created its current problems.

On Coun. Linda Annis, Starchuk criticized her support for costly light-rail transit she previously voted against, naming her “Light Rail Linda.” He also took aim at her proposed “core review” — which he characterized as cuts to services, firing of frontline workers including firefighters, and bringing in higher user fees.

On former Mayor Doug McCallum: Starchuk pointed to a record of frozen hiring, service cuts, and selling city lands to developers at reduced rates during a period when Surrey’s population grew by more than 50,000 residents. McCallum has not formally entered the race.

On Mayor Brenda Locke: Starchuk highlighted millions spent fighting the police transition she originally voted to launch, property tax increases to fund political vendettas.

Starchuk announced plans to convert the R6 RapidBus into a full Bus Rapid Transit route from Newton to Scott Road Station, and to create a new BRT route from Surrey Central to Semiahmoo via Guildford and 152nd Street. By the end of Imagine Surrey’s first term, the city

would have three functioning BRT routes as the foundation for future SkyTrain expansion.

Starchuk pledged to reduce recreational fees for seniors by 50% and eliminate “Super Senior” surcharges entirely. He announced a free swim lesson for every child aged 5 and under and committed to bringing Surrey’s recreation fees, infrastructure, and program capacity in line with comparable cities. A new building-permit concierge system will impose published timelines on permit approvals, with fee reductions for builders when the city misses its own deadlines.