New Surrey-Serpentine River riding could be election bellwether

Surrey, one of the fastest growing cities in B.C., is getting a new riding in this election one that could prove to be a bellwether for who forms the next provincial government.

The B.C. NDP and the B.C. Conservatives are running star candidatesin Surrey-Serpentine River.

Linda Hepneris on the ballot for the B.C. Conservatives. She spent two decades working for the city of Surrey before winning a spot as a city councillor for three terms and taking the mayor's seat from2014 to 2018.

"What I bring to the table is experience in government," she told CBC News during a visit to her campaign office. "I think my deep government understanding is what will be needed in a new [Conservative]government."

Hepner lives in Surrey South, just outside the new riding,but says her connections to the region run deep.

She's facing off against the NDP's BaltejSinghDhillon, a retired RCMP inspector who lives directly in the contested district.

WATCH | Hepner and Dhillon debate the issues:

Candidates for Surrey-Serpentine River debate the issues

23 days ago

Duration 9:33

Former mayor of Surrey Linda Hepner is the B.C. Conservative candidate for the Surrey-Serpentine riding, and former RCMP officer Baltej Dhillon is the B.C. NDP candidate. They joined The Early Edition to talk about what matters to voters there.

He was the first Mountie to wear a turban on the job, paving the way in 1991for religious accommodation in the national police force.

"I had to fight racism, fight discrimination and prejudice both inside and outside.It was a hard fought fight," he told CBC News.

Dhillonsaid he sees some of those same issues coming up now, pointing tostatements made by a number of B.C. Conservative candidates that were offensive to the Muslim community, 2SLGBTQ+community and Indigenous people.

"As I come into this world to lend some expertise to the work that's already underway on public safety, [the B.C. NDP]is a party I can stand with, my values align, so do my principles," he said.

Dhillon's Surrey home was the venue when NDPLeader David Eby unveiled the party's campaign bus on Sept. 20 and when he announced the party's platform.

Also vying for the new electoral district is Independent candidate Jim McMurtry, a former teacher. The B.C. Green Party does not have a candidate running in the riding.

New riding made of 3 previous ones

Surrey-Serpentine River is made up of parts of three previous ridings: Surrey-Cloverdale, Surrey-Fleetwood and Surrey-Panorama.

It includes some areas where the NDP did well in 2020, and parts that have historically favoured a centre-right party.

Demographic data compiled by Andy Yan, head of Simon Fraser University's City Program,shows 48 per centof those living in the riding are of South Asian descent.

Nearly three quarters are homeowners a higher proportion than the province overall.

The median age in the ridingis 37, compared to 42provincially, and there's a higher proportion of children aged 14 or younger.

Residentswho spoke to CBC News said the big issues there are health care, affordabilityand public safety especially as divisions continue over the province's decision to force Surrey to stick with its city police force.

"Health care, housing....I know for my kids, they need to be able to afford a house one day," said resident Sachin Kumar, whose grown daughters live with him and his wife.

"I think I made up my mind already that we need change," he said, noting that he'll be voting Conservative.

Resident Shachi Yappasaid she worries about the price of groceries andhousing, and would like to see increased subsidies to help working families.

She said she's undecided on which party she'll supportbut said she hasn't heard solutions from either sidethat would solve the affordability crisis.

WATCH | What matters to voters in the battleground of Surrey:

Surrey voters: What election issue matters most to you?

29 days ago

Duration 8:17

We spoke to voters in the ridings of Surrey Centre and Surrey-Newton about what's important to them in the runup to the provincial election on Oct. 19.

Conservative candidate LindaHepner said she thinks Surrey has been neglected under the NDP, pointing to the number of school portables that have ballooned in recent years as an example.

"You cannot double portables and not say you're failing. You're failing," she said."I think Surrey has been a second-class citizen for far too long."

NDP candidate BaltejDhillon agreed Surrey hasbeen neglected, but placed the blame onthe former B.C. Liberal government, which sold the land planned for a second Surrey hospital and did not build enough schools to keep up with the growing student population.

He praisedthe NDP for building schools,a new hospital tower in Cloverdale and a new medical school.

"We're trying to work from that neglect forward. If anything, the B.C.NDP has corrected that course and are doing all the things that the [B.C. Liberals]made promises around."

Surreyhas 10 electoralridings, all of which are expected to be closely fought battlegrounds.

As the NDP and Conservatives remain in a tight race ahead of voting day on Oct. 19,candidates will be busy knocking on doors and hitting the streets to try to sway undecided voters.