B.C. NDP and B.C. Conservatives support extending SkyTrain to Newton

With the provincial election approaching, Surrey is emerging as a major battleground. The province’s two largest parties are now expressing support for extending SkyTrain to Newton. In a statement, newly elected Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said only the B.C. Conservatives have committed to the expansion, while the B.C. NDP “offered a meeting.” Connecting Newton to the SkyTrain line was one of McCallum’s campaign promises.

Eby was asked about McCallum’s comments at a news conference Tuesday morning. He said British Columbians should know that the NDP is committed to working with Surrey’s new mayor to build SkyTrain to Newton, as well as to the Massey Tunnel project in the Lower Mainland and expanding the hospital’s sixth floor in Kelowna. He said these projects are part of building the province. Eby added that the B.C. NDP platform has set aside $250 million for transit expansion to Newton. “There’s actually money in our costed platform to expand SkyTrain to Newton,” he said.

B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson did not hold a media availability Tuesday. In a news release, he said Newton had been left off the rapid-transit map under Eby. Doerkson said Newton families should not have to keep waiting for promises that are never delivered, and that the community has been patient for too long. He said he is committing to the project and that a Conservative government would build it on time and on budget. Doerkson added that Newton would “finally get the rapid transit it deserves.”