Surrey mayoral candidate pledges First Nations housing partnership and a halt to new casinos

Surrey mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk made two campaign announcements ahead of the Oct. 17 municipal election: a “Senakw-style partnership” for rental housing and a moratorium on new casinos. He is running against candidates including Doug McCallum, Linda Annis and incumbent mayor Brenda Locke. On Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Starchuk’s Imagine Surrey party said it would put city-owned land forward for a rental community owned and led by First Nations. Surrey is on the lands of the Semiahmoo, Katzie and Kwantlen Nations. The party’s release said City Hall would provide the land, approvals and financing partners, while the Nations would decide whether to proceed, where and how. Starchuk said he had worked with local First Nations as a councillor and MLA, and that as mayor he wanted a stronger relationship and partnership in the spirit of reconciliation. Imagine Surrey said any First Nation bringing a proposal to City Hall under its administration would find a “willing partner.”

The party pointed to Senakw, a 10.5-acre reserve at the south end of Burrard Bridge in Vancouver, where Squamish Nation is building a purpose-built rental housing project. The government removed the Nation from a village on the lands in the early 20th century. After a lengthy legal battle, the 10.5-acre reserve was officially created in 2003. The development has four phases. The first of three towers near Vanier Park is complete, and residents began moving in over the summer. The project is adding much-needed rental supply to Vancouver’s housing market, offering the Nation an opportunity to generate wealth and representing a step toward reconciliation, though it has also faced challenges. Since Senakw’s initial design scope was announced, people have debated its density and height, limited vehicle parking and, most recently, high rents in some units.

On Oct. 1, Starchuk pledged “no new casinos” in Surrey. He said the moratorium would take the form of a council resolution within the first 100 days. Under the proposal in Imagine Surrey’s release, the City would not consent to a new casino or community gaming centre, or to moving a gaming licence into Surrey. No new slot machines or table games would be allowed anywhere in the city outside the existing casino in Cloverdale. The party said it would update the gaming policy and ask the Province to respect it. The release said a written moratorium would prevent a future council from quietly approving a casino. The resolution would also bar the City from licensing crypto ATMs, tighten licensing for cash businesses and keep payday lenders away from schools, community centres and transit hubs.

Imagine Surrey city council candidate Margaret Mubanda, who worked as a social worker for 21 years, said she had seen the lasting effects of gambling debt and payday loans on families. The World Health Organization says gambling can cause harms including financial stress, relationship breakdown, family violence, mental illness and suicide. It says population-wide interventions can help prevent and reduce harm, including restrictions on access and availability such as limits on opening hours and venue density, as well as ending advertising and promotions.

Imagine Surrey said it would restore the casino at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds as a year-round destination, in consultation with the Semiahmoo and Kwantlen First Nations. Semiahmoo First Nation acquired Elements Casino Surrey this spring. Chief Harley Chappell said the acquisition was an important step in strengthening economic opportunity for the Nation and reaffirming its presence in its traditional territory as a capable business entity. He said the Nation looked forward to creating meaningful benefits for its people, supporting regional employment and contributing to the community’s long-term well-being and prosperity. The B.C. Lottery Corporation reported that Elements Casino Surrey generated $58.2 million in total revenue in fiscal year 2024/2025, including $49.2 million from slots and more than $9 million from table games.

Starchuk called on the other mayoral candidates to make the same commitment on new casinos in Surrey. In the release, he said voters should ask why a candidate would not rule out a casino before the election.