When the data from the 1996 census became available Surrey Central was estimated to be the most populous electoral district in Canada, at 149,468 people.

It encompassed 152 square kilometres (59 sq mi) of the city of Surrey and the Barnston Island portion of Greater Vancouver's Electoral Area A.

[1][2] The Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, 1995[3] adopted during the 35th Canadian Parliament's 1st Session and the subsequent Representation Order, 1996, increased the number of electoral districts in British Columbia from 32 to 34, and increased the total number of seats in the House of Commons of Canada from 295 to 301.

The largest ethnic minority was South Asian at 28% of the population and 39% reported a mother tongue that was neither English or French.

The total number of seats in the House of Commons had been increased from 301 to 308, giving British Columbia two more electoral districts.

[12] At the time, the Reform Party was fighting a perception that they were oblivious to the multi-racial composition of Canadian society and struggling with an image of extremism.

[9] After losing the Reform Party nomination to Grewal, Mike Runte, a 48-year-old Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer registered to run as an independent candidate.

Runte refused the order, believing it unconstitutional, and consequently was suspended from the RCMP and faced a disciplinary tribunal.

Following the conversion of the Reform Party to the Canadian Alliance in March 2000, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien called a snap election to take place on November 27.