Surrey mayor ‘wasted’ millions fighting police transition, Annis says in campaign launch

The 2026 Surrey civic election is still more than a year away but the race for mayor is already heating up.

Coun. Linda Annis launched her campaign Wednesday with a speech that took plenty of shots at current Mayor Brenda Locke, who also confirmed she is running for re-election when the election is held on Oct. 17, 2026.

The speech by Annis took aim at Locke’s plan to build a 10,000-seat arena, promising to cancel the project. Annis is the executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers and her campaign will make a major issue out of Locke’s long fight to derail the transition to the Surrey Police Service.

“The mayor and her councillors have wasted this four-year term focusing on just one single issue: that police transition,” Annis said. “They have wasted time and millions of dollars, and they put every other important issue on the back burner. The mayor and her councillors have shown us that they can’t deal with more than one issue at a time, and this has frustrated me every single day.”

Annis is running under the Surrey First banner, with a promise that more candidates will be announced in the coming weeks. Annis was first elected to Surrey council in 2018 and topped the polls in 2022.

“In just four short years, Surrey will be British Columbia’s biggest city, and we will be the first city in our province to top one million people,” said Annis. “I want to make sure we’re ready so that we can build the sort of future our city wants and deserves. It’s time to ignite Surrey’s potential and show our province and country what we can contribute and accomplish in the important years ahead.”

Annis said she would also introduce a municipal version of the mandate letters that the provincial and federal governments use to spell out direction to cabinet ministers.
“Councillors want to do more, and if we elect the right people with the right talent and drive, we can get a lot more done, and then be held accountable by voters,” explained Annis. “I want to run with a team that puts Surrey first, and believes our city deserves more than the status quo. I want to be part of a team that is prepared to help with the heavy lifting that comes with the priorities we’re identifying. The years ahead will be busy, and it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident that with the right team and a council that is less partisan we can get a lot more done.”

Annis said, while she has no intention of being the sort of mayor that picks fights with the provincial or federal governments, she will ensure Surrey MLAs and MPs know exactly what their city expects of them as they represent the city in Victoria and Ottawa.
“I want Ottawa and Victoria on speed dial, and a “Team Surrey” approach at the local, provincial and federal level,” said Annis. “Flexing our political muscle is key to ensuring Surrey’s political strength translates into resources and funding that delivers for our local families.”

Annis said her election priorities will be a results-driven “contract with the community” that includes:

• Completing the police transition and securing a new police training academy in Surrey for the Lower Mainland;
• A core review of every city program and expense, ensuring value for money, potential savings, and reduced red tape;
• Adding light rail transit that connects neighbourhoods, and complements the new Surrey-Langley SkyTrain line;
• Cutting wait times for building permits and building more affordable housing quicker, smarter, and with fewer city hall hurdles and costs;
• Creating a results-driven economic development plan that cuts red tape, earns Surrey an open-for-business reputation, and produces good local jobs that reduce commuting to work in neighbouring cities;
• Growing key industry sectors, including agriculture and food processing, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and supply chains, and Surrey’s construction expertise;
• Hiring an independent auditor general — like every big city in Canada – ensuring financial transparency, and making sure taxpayers get value for money from city hall programs and expenditures;
• Developing a 20-year plan for more neighbourhood parks, pools, rinks, and playing fields, with free admission for Surrey children and youth;
• Flexing Surrey’s growing political muscle to secure more transit, healthcare, and education infrastructure dollars from Victoria and Ottawa;
• Zero tolerance for Surrey’s 400 school portables;
• A community-driven master plan for Cloverdale Fairgrounds as a sports and entertainment hub;
• Developing a conference and performing arts centre;
• Creating more community engagement, including a public question period at the start of every council meeting; and
• Delivering more transparency from city hall and city council, with fewer in-camera meetings.