A report on interviews of Surrey MLA Candidates completed by PA/PR.

1
Candidate Interviews

• A report on interviews of Surrey MLA Candidates
  completed by PA/PR.

2
Surrey-Cloverdale
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Stephanie Cadieux Harry Kooner

• Stephanie Cadieux was the MLA for
  Surrey-Panorama but is running in
  Surrey-Cloverdale following the resignation of
  Kevin Falcon
• Stephanie Cadieuxs campaign did not respond to
  request for an interview
• Harry Kooners campaign agreed to an interview.

3
Harry Kooner Interview

• Harry Kooner is currently employed by the City of
  Surrey, is a member of CUPE and is the father of
  two children enrolled in Surrey schools in grades
  8 and 12. His uncle is a former Surrey School
  District trustee.
• Harry realizes that smaller class sizes allow
  teachers to establish a closer teaching
  relationship with students and he is in favour of
  having class size limits specified in the
  collective agreement.

4
Harry Kooner Interview contd

• On FSAs, Harry favours testing that is developed
  by the classroom teacher and that is fair to all
  students, including students with special needs.
  
• Harry supports having full collective bargaining
  rights restored for teachers, including the right
  to strike, where necessary. He also supports a
  salary increase for teachers in order to attract
  well-educated people into the profession, but he
  did say this would depend on the size of the
  deficit.

5
Surrey-Fleetwood
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Peter Fassbender Jagrup Brar (Inc) Tim Binnema Murali Krishnan

• Peter Fassbenders campaign agreed to an
  interview.
• Jagrup Brar is the incumbent candidate for the
  riding.
• Jagrup Brars campaign agreed to an interview.
• Tim Binnemas campaign agreed to an interview
• Murali Krishnans campaign did not respond to our
  request for an interview.

6
Peter Fassbender Interview

• Peter Fassbender is currently the Mayor of
  Langley and was a Langley city counsellor from
  2002-2005. He has been an active member of the
  community for many years and was awarded a
  Queens Diamond Jubilee medal.
• Peter said that he believes that the Liberal
  government has really dealt with class size quite
  significantly over the years and is one of the
  first governments to put class size into
  legislation. He said he wasnt sure it was
  necessarily part of the bargaining process.

7
Peter Fassbender Interview contd

• On the FSAs, he said that anything we can do to
  identify the needs in education and where we
  stand on comprehension is a good thing. He said
  that testing can provide us with good, valuable
  information as long as we use it appropriately.
• On collective bargaining, he said that education
  is a fundamental right for our society and
  children and anything that would disrupt that
  needs to be looked at in the context of what is
  that impact. He pointed out that the premiers
  desire for a 10 year deal is absolutely what we
  should be looking at to ensure stability.

8
Jagrup Brar Interview

• Jagrup Brar is the incumbent candidate for the
  riding. He was first elected in a by-election in
  2004. Jagrup most recently served as the
  Opposition Critic for Small Business.
• On class size and composition, Jagrup said that
  in order to deliver quality education we need to
  have a cap on class size which is manageable. He
  said that he believes that teachers should have
  the right to negotiate class size, learning
  conditions and that should be a part of the
  negotiating process, which the NDP should respect.

9
Jagrup Brar Interview contd

• On the FSAs, Jagrup said that we need to bring
  all parties together and teachers should play an
  important role in this, to come up with a system
  so that we can all work in cooperation. He
  didnt provide an answer when asked whether the
  FSA should continue.
• On collective bargaining, he said that the last
  10 years confrontation has dominated and this
  impacts the education system significantly. He
  said that we must respect teachers and the
  negotiation process and respect the agreement,
  whatever it is. He said he think teachers should
  have the right to strike.
• Jagrup also mentioned the importance of having a
  poverty reduction plan.

10
Tim Binnema Interview

• Tim Binnema works as an engineering manager. His
  volunteer involvement has included working with
  the building and maintenance committees at his
  childrens school and leadership positions at his
  church.
• On class size and caseload limits, Tim says that
  smaller class sizes enable the teacher to respond
  to those students who need extra care. He said
  there needs to be some flexibility in the overall
  system.

11
Tim Binnema Interview contd

• On FSAs, he said that he doesnt support that it
  tends to take a lot of energy for something that
  is perhaps arbitrary. He said the Green Party
  wants to keep assessment on the ground and not
  driven by someone outside of the system.
• On collective bargaining, he said he hadnt
  thought that out too much. He said we have a
  lack of good will in BC and that the union needs
  to have the right to negotiate and that right now
  they have lost that and dont have any power and
  he doesnt think that is fair. He said he would
  support teachers getting a good wage.
• Tims children go to a private Christian school.
  He said that the school is half funded by the
  government, so it fall under the public system.

12
Surrey-Green Timbers
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Amrik Tung Sue Hammell (Inc) Richard Hosein

• Amrik Tungs campaign did not respond to our
  request for an interview.
• Sue Hammell is the incumbent candidate in the
  riding.
• Sue Hammells campaign agreed to an interview.
• Richard Hoseins campaign did respond but it was
  at the deadline and there was not time to
  coordinate an interview.

13
Sue Hammell Interview

• Sue Hammell was first elected in Surrey-Green
  Timbers in 1991. Most recently, she has served
  as the Official Opposition Deputy House Leader
  and as the Deputy Opposition Critic on Womens
  Issues, Child Care and Early Learning. Sue is a
  former teacher, teaching in Verdun, Quebec, in
  Courtenay and in Surrey.
• On class size and composition, Sue said that the
  NDP supports smaller class sizes. She said that
  the NDP are going to work on both class size and
  composition.

14
Sue Hammell Interview contd

• On FSAs, Sue said that the tests are not
  consistent in how they are marked or who is
  taking them and that the results are abused. She
  said that there should be randomized testing in
  the first year and then consultation with
  teachers and other educational stakeholders with
  a review, leading to some other process.
• On collective bargaining, Sue said the NDP agrees
  with free collective bargaining and that she
  believes that working conditions can be part of
  the process. She said that she believes the
  right to strike is part of free and fair
  collective bargaining and that it is embedded in
  the process.

15
Surrey-Newton
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Sukhminder Virk Harry Bains (Inc) Satinder Singh Alan Saldanha (Helping Hand)

• Sukhminder Virks campaign did not respond to our
  request for an interview.
• Harry Bains is the incumbent candidate in the
  riding.
• Harry Bains campaign agreed to an interview.
• Satinder Singhs campaign agreed to an interview.
• Alan Saldanhas campaign did not respond to our
  request for an interview.

16
Harry Bains Interview

• Harry Bains was first elected in 2005. He was an
  elected officer of Steelworkers-IWA Canada local
  2171 for over 15 years. He also served on the
  Kwantlen University College Board of Governors.
  He served as Opposition Critic for Transportation
  and Infrastructure.
• On class size and composition, Harry said that
  this needs to be negotiated. He said that
  deteriorating conditions in schools are what is
  leading to the stress levels of teachers and new
  teachers leaving after the first 5 years.

17
Harry Bains Interview contd

• On FSAs, Harry said that Adrian Dix has said that
  they will be replaced. He said that in the first
  year it will be replaced with randomized testing
  and that in the second year they will replace it
  with a better test. He said it will be replaced
  through a consultative process with teachers and
  parents.
• On collective bargaining, he said that he has
  been a trade unionist all of his adult life and
  that he believes in free collective bargaining.
  He said that government should show respect for
  the work that teachers do and that for the last
  12 years, government has not shown teachers
  respect. He said that the NDP believe that free
  collective bargaining the key to changing the
  relationship between teachers and government.

18
Satinder Singh Interview

• Satinder Singh works for TD Canada Trust in
  Surrey. He is fluent in English, Punjabi and
  Hindi. He lives in Surrey with his wife and two
  and a half year old daughter.
• On class size and composition, Satinder said that
  he thinks smaller class sizes are better for
  students. He said he wouldnt paint all classes
  with the same brush but some classes need to be
  smaller. He also said that there needs to be
  more specialist teachers. He said he would lobby
  government for smaller class sizes and more
  specialist teachers if elected.

19
Satinder Singh Interview contd

• On FSAs, he said he asked his mom about this
  issue. He said that there has been cheating on
  the FSAs and other unethical behaviour. He said
  he thinks teachers do a great job and we need
  input on how students are doing but not the FSAs.
• On collective bargaining, he said that teachers
  should have the right to free collective
  bargaining. When asked about teacher salaries,
  he said that he believes in free enterprise and
  that the public loses sight of where teachers
  stand in comparison to other provinces and other
  professions.

20
Surrey-Panorama
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Marvin Hunt Amrik Mahil Sara Sharma Kevin Rakhra

• The campaigns of Marvin Hunt, Sara Sharma and
  Kevin Rakhra did not respond to our request for
  an interview.
• Amrik Mahils campaign agreed to an interview.

21
Amrik Mahil Interview

• Amrik Mahils sister is a teacher in the U.K. and
  Amrik is familiar with the British public school
  system. Amriks two children were both educated
  in Surrey public schools and are now attending
  UBC and BCIT.
• On class size and composition, he said that he
  taught for 2 ½ years at the Justice Institute
  with class sizes of 20 and highly motivated
  students. He said the limit of 20 students was
  better because it enabled more one-to-one
  communication.

22
Amrik Mahil Interview contd

• On FSAs, he said that there needs to be a system
  that is fair to students and is more equitable to
  disadvantaged communities. He said we need to
  find a system where we can keep students involved
  and engaged and not destroy their self-esteem.
• On collective bargaining, he said that bargaining
  in good faith needs to be restored. He said the
  NDP is committed to free collective bargaining.
  He said that catching up on years of cutbacks
  will take time but that teachers should be
  reasonably compensated.

23
Surrey-Tynehead
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Amrik Virk Avtar Bains Barry Sikora Suki Gill (B.C. Vision)

• The campaigns of Amrik Virk, Barry Sikora and
  Suki Gill did not respond to our request for an
  interview.
• Avtar Bains campaign agreed to an interview.

24
Avtar Bains Interview

• Avtar is a small business owner and volunteer in
  the community. He is a staunch supporter of
  the public education system. He graduated from
  North Surrey Secondary on 1983 and has been
  involved with their scholarship funding since
  1986.
• On class size and composition, he said there
  should be a limit on class size and caseloads.
  He said that with lower class sizes, the students
  get better attention from their teachers, this
  should be written into the contract.

25
Avtar Bains Interview contd

• On FSAs, he that that a big problem with them is
  that the Fraser Institute has used the results to
  rank schools without taking into consideration
  the background of students. He said the NDP
  plans to introduce random testing in the first
  term of office.
• On collective bargaining, he said that he thinks
  it is a fundamental right in Canada. He said
  that there should not be bargaining through the
  media. He said that he supports the right to
  strike but hopes it wouldnt get to that point.
  He said teachers should be able to bargain class
  size and composition, as well as salary.

26
Surrey-Whalley
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Kuljeet Kaur Bruce Ralston (Inc) Pradeep Kumar Jag Bhandari (B.C. Vision)

• The campaigns of Kuljeet Kaur, Pradeep Kumar and
  Jag Bhandari did not respond to our request for
  an interview.
• Bruce Ralstons campaign agreed to an interview.

27
Bruce Ralston Interview

• Bruce Ralston is ending his second term as the
  MLA for Surrey-Whalley. His father was a public
  school teacher and later taught at university and
  his mother was also a school teacher. Bruce is a
  lawyer. His sister is a teacher and his three
  children attended public school.
• On class size and composition, Bruce supports
  smaller classes, citing research that concludes
  that lower class sizes indicate better learning
  outcomes. He also supports smaller caseload
  limits. Bruce said it would be better to
  negotiate class size and composition.

28
Bruce Ralston Interview contd

• On FSAs, he stated that the NDP position is that
  a different form of assessment needs to be
  achieved through consultation.
• On collective bargaining, Bruce supports the NDP
  position that calls for full and free collective
  bargaining. He declined to comment on salaries.

29
Surrey-White Rock
BC Liberal BC NDP BC Green BC Conserv Others
Gordon Hogg (Inc) Susan Keeping

• Gordon Hoggs campaign did not respond to our
  request for an interview.
• Susan Keepings campaign agreed to an interview.

30
Susan Keeping Interview

• Susan Keeping is a South Surrey resident and
  mother of six children. She has worked in the
  non-profit sector for 20 years.
• On class size and composition, she said that
  teachers are under a lot of stress and need the
  right amount of support in the classroom. She
  said this does a disservice to teachers,
  students, and parents.

31
Susan Keeping Interview contd

• On FSAs, she said that they can cherry pick the
  good results and that this evaluates teachers
  based on the students they have and the area in
  which they teach. She said this tool is a
  problem.
• On collective bargaining, she said that
  negotiations need to be done fairly and honestly.
  She said that she is cautious about creating
  more deficit with an increase to teacher
  salaries. She also said she didnt want to see
  teachers leaving BC to get better salaries
  elsewhere. She said the NDP would have to look
  at the fiscal reality.