B.C. election: Meet the five candidates for Surrey-Fleetwood

Final voting day in the B.C. election is Oct. 24. The five candidates in Surrey-Fleetwood are Tim Binnema of the BC Green Party, incumbent BC NDP MLA Jagrup Brar, Paul Brar of CentreBC, Carolyn Hofbauer of OneBC and Garry Purewal of the BC Conservatives. They are among 47 candidates across Surrey’s 10 ridings. Surrey Now-Leader sent candidates the same questions, word limits and deadlines; the responses below are presented as received.

**Tim Binnema, BC Green Party**

Binnema says he has lived in Fleetwood since 2000, where he and his wife raised their four children. His family remains connected to the community, and he wants future generations to be able to live well there. His three priorities are affordability, with a “housing first” policy; timely health care through team-based community health centres; and economic development that benefits everyone and is guided by a planetary boundaries framework.

If elected, he says he would establish communication channels with federal and municipal elected officials and connect with local faith, sports, arts and business organizations. He wants those groups to know they can share concerns and ideas for making Fleetwood more resilient. He would also work with the municipal government on community roundtables to develop strategies for maximizing the benefits of SkyTrain development for Fleetwood residents while minimizing potential downsides.

Binnema asks Fleetwood residents for their votes and says he will listen to their concerns. He says he would draw on his professional and personal experience, guided by participatory democracy, sustainability and respect for diversity, to serve Fleetwood and strengthen the community’s resilience. Voters can email teambinnema@bcgreens.ca or visit https://bcgreens.ca/candidates-2026/tim-binnema.

**Paul Brar, CentreBC**

Brar describes himself as a longtime Surrey resident, a professional with 40 years of experience and a community volunteer. He says he built his life in Canada through hard work, responsibility and a commitment to serving others. His priorities are affordability, health care and public safety.

If elected, he says he would push for every child to have the opportunity to reach their potential, better support for students with learning disabilities and more resources for teachers so all children can learn in a positive environment. He would review how funding is allocated and where changes could ensure resources reach the front lines. On public safety, he says he would work toward stronger consequences for violent offences and better support for enforcement and prevention.

Brar says B.C. needs change and residents deserve a future they can feel confident about. He pledges to put more money back in people’s pockets, strengthen education and health care, and make communities safer. He says his priorities are voters’ priorities and that he is committed to moving B.C. in the right direction. Voters can call 604-721-4450, visit http://paulbrarcentre.bc.ca, email paul@paulbrarcentrebc.ca, or find votepaulbrar on Instagram and Facebook.

**Carolyn Hofbauer, OneBC**

Hofbauer says she is a business owner raising her family in Surrey, where she was born. Her priorities are repealing SOGI so teachers can focus on reading, writing and arithmetic; cancelling DRIPA to end uncertainty and give homeowners complete control over their property; and cutting taxes by 25 per cent in every bracket. She says industry and jobs will return as a result of the tax cuts.

Asked what she would seek to achieve in her first 100 days, Hofbauer said that, given what she described as a Liberal takeover of the BC Conservative Party, a strong, legitimately conservative party needs a presence in the legislature to ensure the party lives up to its name. She says she will never support a tax increase or be dishonest, and that voters should “fire” her if she breaks either commitment. She says the NDP needs to go, but the province’s conservative parties also need a safeguard against liberal infiltration. Voters can visit https://1bc.ca/candidates/chofbauer.

**Jagrup Brar, BC NDP**

Brar is the incumbent MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood and the Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals. He has also trained entrepreneurs through a Surrey non-profit. His priorities are lowering fuel and grocery costs for families and small businesses, keeping ICBC rates frozen through 2030, and strengthening health care and recruiting more workers in Surrey.

If elected, Brar says he will work with the BC NDP to lower costs and strengthen health care in Surrey. He says the party’s gas plan would suspend 10 cents per litre of fuel tax and let the B.C. Utilities Commission cap excessive price gouging, for savings of up to 30 cents per litre. The grocery plan would cap profits on essentials and remove barriers to competition, with average savings potentially reaching $700 a year. He says he will support keeping ICBC rates frozen through 2030, opening three more team-based primary care clinics in Surrey and adding 1,000 health-worker training seats.

Brar says he came to Canada after playing for India’s national basketball team and built a career helping Surrey residents start businesses and strengthen their community. He says he has served Surrey for decades and would use that experience to keep costs down, support good jobs and protect health care from Conservative cuts. Voters can visit jagrupbrar.bcndp.ca.