Surrey politician Jinny Sims joins new Surrey Forward party, announces mayoral bid
Posted June 9, 2022 7:42 pm.
Last Updated June 9, 2022 7:43 pm.
Longtime British Columbia teacher, labour leader and politician Jinny Sims has announced her intention to run for mayor in Surrey when municipal elections are held this fall.
Sims made it official Wednesday at an event with the newly formed municipal party Surrey Forward and the party’s four declared council candidates, Ramon Bandong, Jim Bennett, June Liu and Theresa Pidcock.
“There are three major problems we must address immediately. Number one: openness and transparency. Number two, fairness moving forward, and that means fairness for everyone who lives in Surrey,” Sims said Wednesday. “Third, addressing the cost of living in Surrey so that all our families could live here, can afford to buy a home, and have the facilities we need.”
Sims spoke about finding the best option for Surrey residents in terms of the RCMP transition into the Surrey police service
To ensure fairness for those in the city she added she believes permit approvals “should be based on project merit. Not the owner of the building application.
“Applications must be dealt with on a first come first served basis.”
To “bring back affordability” she said will work to make transit more accessible, more well paying jobs to spend less time commuting and “We must hold the line on cities taxes.”
Sims has represented the provincial riding of Surrey-Panorama as a New Democrat since 2017 and also served as the NDP member of Parliament for the Newton-North Delta riding between 2011 and 2015.
Sims also worked as a high school teacher and was the president of the BC Teachers’ Federation between 2004 and 2007.
She says she will take an unpaid leave of absence from her legislature duties while she focuses on the mayoral bid.
Sims and Surrey Coun. Brenda Locke are the first announced challengers to current Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum in municipal elections set for Oct. 15.
