Vancouver, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the City of Surrey to release the cost for the city’s proposed new arena. Financial details of the project were entirely redacted in documents obtained by the CTF through freedom of information requests. 

“Surrey taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability whenever the government spends their money,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the CTF. “Surrey city hall is asking taxpayers to bankroll a mega project while refusing to release the numbers that taxpayers need to decide if this is a good deal.” 

The CTF requested documents showing cost estimates and business cases for the proposed 10,000-seat arena in Surrey. The city provided a heavily redacted report by the Chicago-based real estate consultant Hunden Partners. 

Many of the city’s core financial estimates — including construction costs, operating projections and even basic tax-revenue projections — were redacted. Entire tables and financial projections were fully censored, as well as information around potential anchor tenants.

“If city hall wants Surrey taxpayers to pay for a stadium and entertainment district, it shouldn’t be hiding behind redactions,” Binda said. “When entire pages are blocked by black ink, taxpayers start to wonder what the city is trying to hide.”

Surrey city councillors — including opposition Councillor Linda Annis — have warned that the new arena could cost taxpayers as much as $600 million. 

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