17.97°C Vancouver

Sep 21, 2022 8:20 PM - Connect News

When we don’t have enough police and firefighters, we put Surrey families at risk: Gordie Hogg

Share On
when-we-dont-have-enough-police-and-firefighters-we-put-surrey-families-at-risk-gordie-hogg
Surrey First mayoral candidate Gordie Hogg says the city is short 60 firefighters, with just 10 new hires since 2018. (Photo - Connect News)

Surrey First mayoral candidate Gordie Hogg says the city is short 60 firefighters, with just 10 new hires since 2018.

"Families are at risk when Surrey doesn’t have the firefighters and police it needs," explained Hogg. "Vancouver has about 800 firefighters while Surrey has just 400. Even more concerning is the ratio of residents to firefighters. Vancouver has one firefighter for every 850 residents, while Surrey has one for every 1600. We need to take that shortfall seriously and I want to start by hiring 15 new firefighters each of the next four years."

Hogg said Doug McCallum has "shortchanged" taxpayers when it comes to core services because he has been "distracted by his police transition and has forgotten about boots on the ground when it comes to both police and firefighters."

"The fact is he has not been paying attention to the core services that a big city needs," noted Hogg. "Instead, his attention has only been on his costly police transition that is over budget and already two years late, and ridiculous announcements such as his 60,000-seat fantasy stadium. Meanwhile, Surrey hasn’t hired a new police officer in four years, and the need for more firefighters grows each and every year as Surrey’s population grows."

Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis said the city is growing by at least a thousand new residents every month, and Surrey should have plans in place that ensure there are enough police, firefighters and public amenities like parks, pools and rinks in order to keep up.

"I’ve watched Doug McCallum deliver four budgets and he’s failed to deliver the police and firefighters we actually need," said Annis. "Having the right number of first responders, as well as the parks, pools, rinks and community centres needed for a growing population, should be built into five and 10-year plans so that we keep pace and don’t have to play catch up down the road. Falling behind and being forced to catch up is costly and more expensive than having services that expand with our growth."

Hogg added that running a big city like Surrey "demands that city hall and city council get the core services right, because if we don’t, our residents pay the price down the road."

"Surrey’s police and firefighters are priorities for me and our council candidates and hiring the people we need will be built into our four-year term," noted Hogg. "With an annual budget of $1.2 billion, Surrey deserves an open, honest and competent city council that makes sure the services people pay for are there when they need them, and that includes police and firefighters."

Latest news

softball-excitement-in-surrey-team-canada-takes-on-new-zealand-and-ukraine-in-canada-cup
BCJul 08, 2025

Softball excitement in Surrey, Team Canada takes on New Zealand and Ukraine in Canada Cup

The Canada Cup has begun at Softball City in Surrey. This is the 30th edition of the Canada Cup and Team Canada, fresh from its gold medal performance at the Pan-American championship in Columbia, will play two matches in Surrey. The Canadian women's team will face New Zealand at 6 p.m. today and then Ukraine at 8:30 p.m. The final match of the tournament will be played on Sunday. Apart from the Canadian team, strong teams like Czechia, Greece, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Israel, Triple Crown Colorado and Team BC are also participating in the tournament. Today, players from Team Canada were a
WorldJul 08, 2025

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya to be hanged in Yemen on July 16

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya is likely to be hanged in Yemen on July 16. 37-year-old Nimisha is originally from Kerala. She was convicted of the murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi. According to the report, Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a social worker who is in talks with government officials and Talal's family in Yemen, confirmed that a letter has been issued to prison authorities, in which the execution has been fixed for July 16. He said that options are still there and the Indian government can intervene to save her life. Nimisha started a clinic with Talal in 2015 but soon they had dif
WorldJul 08, 2025

USA: Four members of a Hyderabad family die in road accident

Four members of an Indian family died in a road accident in Texas, USA on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Tejaswini, Sri Venkat and their two children. The family belonged to Hyderabad. According to information, a mini-truck hit their vehicle, after which the car caught fire. The accident took place in Greene County. The family had gone to Dallas for a vacation. They were returning after meeting their relatives in Atlanta when the accident occurred. Authorities confirmed that all four victims died on the spot. Arrangements are being made to send their bodies to Hyderabad for c
icc-issues-arrest-warrants-for-taliban-leaders-over-persecution-of-women-and-girls
WorldJul 08, 2025

ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of women and girls

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for the Taliban’s supreme leader and the head of Afghanistan’s supreme court on charges of persecuting women and girls since seizing power nearly four years ago. The warrants also accuse the leaders of persecuting “other persons non-conforming with the Taliban’s policy on gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women.’” The warrants were issued against Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhunzada and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, Ab
over-1-million-in-property-damages-after-vandalism-spree-in-alberta-town-rcmp
AlbertaJul 08, 2025

Over $1 million in property damages after vandalism spree in Alberta town: RCMP

Mounties say a man has been charged with causing over $1 million in damages in a vandalism spree in a rural Alberta town. Vermilion RCMP say officers received a complaint Sunday that a provincial government building and six sheriffs vehicles were damaged. They say officers arrived to find windows shattered in the building and in the vehicles. Windows in the town's courthouse were also broken and drive-thru display screens at a nearby McDonald's were damaged. The 23-year-old accused faces charges of mischief and break-and-enter and has been remanded into custody. Vermillion is

Related News