Considering a possible centralized transit hub for Surrey City Centre, British Columbia (B.C.), the Canadian government is working with provincial, municipal and academic partners to get feedback on the initial development. A centralized hub could offer increased convenience, office space savings and collaboration for the public.
As Surrey is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in B.C., its ongoing development is rapidly transforming the city and sparking new economic growth. Surrey City Centre continues to develop with anchor tenants such as Simon Fraser University's Surrey campus, which has recently expanded to include a federal- and provincial‑funded new Sustainable Energy Engineering building. The government is committed to working with municipal and provincial partners to keep pace with the growth and ensure that services to Canadians are top of mind with any new office development. A collaborative approach to developing federal, provincial and municipal assets in the region would support the growth and needs of the region by:
• generating new office and academic spaces at the center of Surrey;
• providing employment, education and service opportunities closer to residents' homes; and
• addressing sustainability goals through green building design, and by providing easy access to transit and reducing commute times.
Carla Qualtrough, minister of public services and procurement and accessibility, has already taken the first step in exploring the development of a Metro Vancouver Workplace Strategy to optimize the use of Crown space in Surrey to meet the needs of the surrounding communities. The strategy will provide public servants with the chance to reduce their commuting time and work closer to where they live, while providing the best service to Canadians in a centralized location.
"The government is committed to investing in communities across the country, and to providing federal employees with effective, modern workplaces that enable better services to Canadians,” Qualtrough said. “I am pleased to meet with leaders from the community to share views and work together to develop a strategy that best serves the community."
Quick facts
• A centralized federal workspace in Surrey would encourage economic growth and provide federal public servants in Surrey with the tools they need to deliver better services to the public in their community.
• Public Services and Procurement Canada will explore collaborative opportunities to modernize the way we work by increasing accessibility, reducing our greenhouse gas footprint, fostering community and collaboration, and exploring alternative work arrangements.
• Participants included: Minister Qualtrough; Randeep Sarai, Member of Parliament for Surrey Centre; Ken Hardie, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood–Port Kells; His Worship Doug McCallum, Mayor of Surrey; Vincent Lalonde, City Manager, City of Surrey; Patrick Klassen, Manager of Community Planning, City of Surrey; Donna Jones, General Manager of Investment and Intergovernmental Affairs, City of Surrey; Heather McNell, Director of Regional Planning, Metro Vancouver; Christine Kennedy, Associate Deputy Minister, Office of the Premier of B.C.; Fazil Mihlar, Deputy Minister, B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology; the Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Training and Technology for B.C.; Michael Heeney, Chief Executive Officer, Surrey City Development Corporation; Andrew Petter, President and Vice-Chancellor, Simon Fraser University; Joy Johnson, Vice-President, Research, Simon Fraser University; Joanne Curry, Vice-President of External Relations, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Steve Cardwell, Associate Vice-President, Academic, Kwantlen Polytechnic University; and Geoff Cross, Vice-President, Planning and Policy, Translink.
• Topics discussed at the meeting touched upon sustainability, leveraging partnerships, innovation, transportation, economic development, livable communities and mixed-use facilities. Discussions were also had around the collaboration between all levels of government, academic and Indigenous partners.
