Surrey First councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis says the deal between Brenda Locke and Total Life Care Granville for two medical clinics means the City of Surrey is now in direct competition with existing Surrey medical clinics.

"The city is providing free space and extended health benefits to the Total Life Care doctors, and will take five percent of net clinic revenues," said Annis. "It means that city hall is in direct competition with our existing medical clinics that pay their own rent and city property taxes, and provide benefits to their doctors and staff. At the same time, Total Life Care will be in competition with existing clinics for doctors, which are always in short supply."

At Monday’s council meeting councillors were told the two city-funded clinics will cost taxpayers about $100,000 each.

Annis said the city clinics to be run by Total Life Care, which already operates clinics, are unfair competition because they are using city tax dollars.

"If there is a business case for the clinics, let Total Life Care or some other operator own and operate them, without city tax dollars," said Annis. "This deal means the playing field is tipped in favour of Total Life Care, and against all of our existing clinics. Government must be fair, particularly when tax dollars are involved. Giving one company an obvious advantage over other local clinics, and using tax dollars to do it, does not sit well with me. It's unfair and taxpayers and existing clinics should be deeply concerned about this whole scheme."