Surrey mayoral candidate proposes First Nations partnership for city-owned land

Mike Starchuk, a Surrey mayoral candidate with the Imagine Surrey slate, says that if he is elected on Oct. 17 and his slate wins a majority on council, he will advance a “rental community” concept on city-owned land, with First Nations deciding whether, where and how it proceeds. The idea would be similar to Sen̓áḵw in Vancouver: city hall would provide the land, approvals and financing partners. An Imagine Surrey news release says the slate would be a willing partner if a Nation brought forward a proposal.

Starchuk said the amount and location of city-owned land would be determined through consultations with the Semiahmoo, Katzie and Kwantlen peoples. He cited the land where Cloverdale hospital is being built, saying it changed hands under an agreement with the provincial government, and suggested other city-owned parcels could have similar designations. He also pointed to a large area of Semiahmoo land in South Surrey near the border as a possible subject for partnership discussions.

Asked whether he would give city-owned land to First Nations, Starchuk said no, describing the agreement he would seek as a lease under which overall ownership would remain as it is. He cited Kekinow housing in Newton as another success to replicate. Housing projects brought forward by BC Housing could follow a similar model for ownership and operation, he said. Starchuk believes the city can proceed if the land is within Surrey and is not provincially owned, and said similar housing projects are emerging elsewhere in British Columbia.

Starchuk said the proposal would not be “underhanded and nefarious” and would be open to public comment. He said he hoped the parties could begin building this type of housing.