Former journalist Haroon Ghaffar has stepped up for Surrey South as its BC NDP candidate.

A journalist and public servant for over a decade, Haroon Ghaffar has dedicated his career to understanding the issues facing Surrey. Now, he is ready to take action to make his community better as an MLA. A Surrey resident for years, he has seen first-hand how the quickly-growing city needs investment: improved healthcare, better transit, and more affordable housing.

“Surrey is growing quickly. We need a government that will make the investments we need to get the services we deserve,” said Ghaffar. “John Rustad has said he’d cut healthcare and public transit. That will hurt people in my community of Surrey South. We can’t afford the risk.”

Since forming government in July 2017, the BC NDP has taken action on crucial issues that matter to the people of Surrey South, including:

• Putting people ahead of speculators and investors by bringing in tough new restrictions on short-term rentals and a speculation tax, plus simplified approvals that make it easier and faster to get 300,000 new homes built;
• Helping people get care when they need it by building and upgrading hospitals in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey and Richmond, including a new hospital and cancer care centre in Surrey;
• Putting money back in your pocket by eliminating MSP premiums, lowering ICBC rates by $500 a year and boosting the BC Family Benefit by $445; and
• Keeping communities safe by hiring 250 more police officers, giving police more power to address public drug use, cracking down on repeat violent offenders, and taking on organized crime — including seizing Hells Angels clubhouses and many other proceeds of crime.

"As a journalist, and through his career, Haroon has dedicated his life to serving people, focusing on the issues that matter: affordable housing, improved transit, better healthcare, and the cost of living," said Premier David Eby. "The people of Surrey South can count on him to be a strong voice for their interests and priorities."

Haroon Ghaffar will join David Eby and 91 other exceptional BC NDP candidates in this fall’s provincial election, all committed to real action to help people build a good life here in BC.