Recently, DESIBUZZCanada sat down with Surrey First’s poll-topping Councilor Linda Annis and her friend and former running mate Bilal Cheema in the last election that resulted in another victory for Annis and added Mike Bose, increasing the party’s Council count to two from one from the previous election. The once dominant Surrey First is hoping to win power back in 2026 and rumour has it that Annis may get the Mayoral candidate nod given her wide support across Surrey which party brass hopes will lead to Surrey First majority win. 

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – Recently, DESIBUZZCanada sat down with Surrey First’s poll-topping Councilor Linda Annis and her friend and former running mate Bilal Cheema in the last election that resulted in another victory for Annis and added Mike Bose, increasing the party’s Council count to two from one from the previous election. 

The once dominant Surrey First is hoping to win power back in 2026 and rumour has it that Annis may get the Mayoral candidate nod given her wide support across Surrey which party brass hopes will lead to Surrey First majority win. 

When asked about this possibility, Annis only smiled said that’s a long way off and she is focused on delivering for Surrey now with much on her plate that needs attention, like getting the Surrey police situation resolved which is consuming huge amounts of the city’s budget with continued uncertainty about the transition forward while current mayor Brenda Locke continues to push back for return to Surrey RCMP. 

We also discussed other issues regarding infrastructure like skytrain already in motion but need to add LRT to connect other parts of the city and what the future of Surrey looks like. 

We mentioned to her that another important aspect is to connect the diverse communities of Surrey,  with the rising South Asian community as well as other ethnic groups calling Surrey home, and the pioneer and long established communities in Cloverdale and South Surrey. 

Annis agreed that it’s important for all of Surrey’s communities to speak to each other and get a better understanding and bridge cultural and other divides. 

Veteran federal Liberal Bilal Cheema, who is touted to run in Surrey-Fleetwood for the Liberals in place of the outgoing MP Ken Hardy, praised Annis’s leadership on issues important to Surrey and her integrity and principled approach to politics. 

“I think she’ll make a great mayor if she chooses that path in the next election, Cheema said. 

Talking politics on drowsy day in Surrey can be so much fun over chai-tea and hot chocolate. 

Thanks Bilal and Linda for a lively discussion.