With growth of cities we see need for all the basic things such as Education, Health care, Affordable Housing, Safety etc to grow. I have Lived in Surrey for over 20 years, I have seen it grow from a small Municipality to a Mega city. I have some data to share with you. Census data released today by Statistics Canada has revealed that Surrey’s population has surpassed 500,000. As of May 2016 last year, the population of Surrey was 517,887, an increase from 468,251 in 2011 representing a growth rate of 10.6%, outpacing the national average, British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, and the Vancouver CMA.

In comparison, between 2011 and 2016:

Canada as a whole grew by 5.0%

British Columbia grew by 5.6%

City of Vancouver grew by 4.6%

Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA): 6.5% The only Vancouver CMA municipality to grow faster than Surrey was the Township of Langley which grew at a rapid 12.6%. As a whole, the Vancouver CMA grew to 2,463,431.

With Surrey adding an average of 1,000 new residents per month, as of February 2017, the population of Surrey can be estimated to have already increased further to 525,000. It is expected that Surrey will surpass Vancouver in population to become the largest city in BC by 2030.

Looking at growth by Census Tract, the areas of Surrey growing the fastest were in the south and east, in places such as Grandview Heights, Sunnyside Heights, South Newton, and Clayton. There was also noticeably strong growth in Surrey City Centre as a result of new condo developments in recent years, with one Census Tract east of King George Blvd and south of 104th Avenue growing by 33%. This growth in City Centre will likely increase even more by the 2021 Census, with more new condo developments expected to be completed within City Centre in the next 5 years than in the previous 5 years.

Universal Health care is what Canada is Unique in providing the highest care in times of Sickness, I admire Surrey Memorial Hospital who has one of the Busiest Emergency in the Nation but it is time for another full hospital as well.

Vancouver city by itself is only few hundred thousands bigger than Surrey but it has Several Speciality Hospitals .

The wait times in ER keeps on going up, the medical Staff works as if they are on a Roller skates, Stress Level goes up.

Medical Errors increases in these busy times, After all we are dealing with Human Life.

A lot can be improved and medical errors decreased if we will have a Second hospital to share the Load, if you build they will come, I mean the Staffing issues etc.

Sometimes I do feel that we are not a priority for Decision makers, After all we are all Contributing to the betterment of our city and are paying Taxes, we are not asking for Free.

Look at Vancouver they have 6 full fledged 24 hour hospitals as listed, BC Children’s , BC Women’s, Vancouver General Hospital, St Paul’s Hospital, UBC site Hospital, Mount St Joseph Hospital.

In my opinion it is unfair that we are provided with only one hospital facility. We need a Second Hospital Soon preferably near 152 Street and No 10 highway Area.

I would Strongly urge the Provincial, Federal and city Elected officials to work on this Collectively, Together we can build the City, the Province and the Nation Strong.

 

Dr. Pargat
Singh Bhurji

MD,FRCP ( C )
Consultant Pediatrician
Surrery BC