---
title: "BC NDP Promises Surrey Its Own Municipal Charter"
description: "David Eby pledged on October 15, 2026 that a re-elected BC NDP government would give Surrey standalone provincial legislation, similar to the Vancouver Charter passed in 1953."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ndp-surrey-charter-platform-promise-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T18:42:30.082Z"
---

BC NDP leader [David Eby](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/david-eby) promised on October 15, 2026, that a re-elected NDP government would give Surrey its own provincial legislation, modeled on the Vancouver Charter. The announcement follows a push by Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke that began more than two years ago.

Surrey currently operates under the Community Charter and BC's Local Government Act, which apply to most municipalities. Vancouver has instead operated under the standalone Vancouver Charter since 1953, which gives it wider authority over bylaws, land use, taxation, spending, and borrowing.

The BC NDP says a Surrey Charter would give the city more local control over housing, transportation, infrastructure, and community services. Eby said the city needs tools to match its size: "A municipal charter will give people on the ground the power to shape the city's future."

The commitment follows Surrey City Council's September 2024 unanimous approval of a charter outline that included authority for a municipal Empty Homes Tax, broader revenue sources, higher maximum bylaw fines, and more business support. Council also sought exemptions from provincial housing requirements. The Eby announcement does not specify which of those requests would be included in the NDP's version, or give a timeline for legislation.

Daily Hive's report notes that an earlier proposal to amend the Vancouver Charter to allow dissolution of the elected Park Board was halted after opposition from Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and First Nations concerns, illustrating that charter changes can face obstacles after an election. The NDP's Surrey Charter commitment gives no detail on First Nations consultation requirements.

The announcement also follows changes in other parts of the province. Daily Hive notes that Okanagan Falls is set to become BC's first new municipality created since the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act became law, with a reconciliation framework for the Osoyoos Indian Band built into its incorporation documents.

Surrey has several provincial ridings. Conservative and Green candidates are also running in those districts. No response to the NDP announcement from the other parties was included in the Daily Hive report.

Voters in Surrey-area ridings can see their candidates and district pages at [/bc/provincial-2026](/bc/provincial-2026). Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. General voting day is October 24, 2026.

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