SURREY, B.C. — Local business owners, farmers, and community members gathered in Surrey recently to engage in a spirited town hall meeting with Ernie Klassen, Member of Parliament for South Surrey—White Rock. Organized in collaboration with local commerce representatives, the event provided a platform for constituents to voice mounting anxieties over trade tariffs, local infrastructure constraints, environmental protection, and national defense policy.
The meeting comes on the heels of federal announcements detailing substantial financial relief for sectors impacted by trade friction with the United States. MP Klassen, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, highlighted his long history as a local small business owner in White Rock and emphasized Ottawa’s commitment to helping local enterprises navigate unpredictable global market conditions.
“We never in my lifetime, at least, have lived in such turbulent times,” Klassen told the audience, pointing out that business owners and families alike are feeling the pressure of trade uncertainty and rising costs.
Small Business and Infrastructure Bottlenecks
Local business owners pressed for direct relief and long-term planning, noting that regional traffic congestion and infrastructure lag are severely dragging down productivity.
Jared, a local construction supply business owner, voiced the daily struggles of operating in one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions. “We’re just squirrels trying to get a nut for the winter,” he said, citing traffic delays, lack of parking, and escalating transport costs as major barriers to keeping his business afloat and feeding his family.
In response, local officials in attendance outlined ongoing infrastructure investments across Surrey—including major multi-lane road expansions—while acknowledging the overwhelming pressure that regional growth and heavy freight corridors (such as the nearby Roberts Bank terminal) place on local roads. Klassen added that federal and provincial partnerships are essential to expanding key choke points like the George Massey Tunnel corridor to ensure supply chains move efficiently.
Tariffs, Taxes, and Manufacturing Pressures
The impacts of cross-border trade friction dominated much of the dialogue. A local manufacturer in the aluminum sector warned that retaliatory and import tariffs are threatening jobs and complicating long-standing trade relationships with U.S. partners. He called on the federal government to establish clear carve-outs and targeted relief for manufacturers reliant on cross-border supply chains rather than broad redistribution of tariff revenue.
Tax policy was another flashpoint, with constituents arguing that high capital gains taxes and shifting tax rules disincentivize domestic growth and make business succession plans increasingly difficult for the next generation.
Klassen reiterated that programs like the federal Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)—delivered locally through Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)—are designed specifically to support impacted small and medium-sized enterprises.
Environmental Protection and Agriculture
Local environmentalists and agricultural producers raised urgent concerns over habitat loss, salmon stock depletion, and climate-driven impacts.
Chris, a local poultry farmer from Campbell Valley/Kloberdale, thanked the government for standing firm on supply management protections during international trade negotiations. However, she warned that shifting weather patterns and extreme climate events are severely straining Canadian farms.
Other constituents highlighted threats to the Little Campbell River watershed, pointing out that urban runoff, industrial development, and habitat destruction threaten wild salmon spawning grounds. Klassen noted that conservation remains the top priority within the fisheries portfolio, citing joint federal-provincial initiatives like the B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund and recent investments in fish hatcheries.
Defense, Security, and Public Spending
The town hall also saw heated exchanges over federal spending priorities, military readiness, and international aid. Several veterans and constituents expressed frustration over military funding levels and cross-border security concerns, calling for greater reinvestment in Canada’s domestic defense capabilities and local infrastructure rather than overseas commitments.
Acknowledging the wide spectrum of views expressed throughout the event, Klassen stressed the importance of grassroots dialogue in shaping parliamentary policy.
“This is a time of pulling the country together and working together,” Klassen concluded, inviting constituents to continue submitting feedback to his constituency office as trade negotiations and federal support programs continue to evolve.
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