OUR PLATFORM

OUR VISION FOR LANGLEY CITY

Thoughtful leadership, practical solutions, and a commitment to achieving more for our community.

Our platform is built on a simple belief: local government should focus on the priorities that matter most to the people who call Langley City home. We are committed to improving public safety, investing in the essential services and infrastructure our community relies on, keeping taxes reasonable through responsible financial management, and ensuring residents have a strong voice in the decisions that shape our city. Every commitment in our platform is grounded in accountability, transparency, and a shared vision of achieving more for Langley City, together.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public safety personnel have struggled with high call volumes and caseloads for some time. We must take care of those who take care of us. Our RCMP carry an alarmingly high caseload per officer (81 in the City compared to 53 in the Township), and our Crime Severity Index is up 28.5% year over year. From 2012 to 2022, the mayor’s slate hired only one RCMP officer. With SkyTrain arriving, we need a team that makes public safety a priority. Our firefighters are just barely meeting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. We also need to end the cycle of our firefighters chronically working under an expired contract. Enforcement alone will not solve the homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges we see downtown. People in crisis need to be connected to care, and much of that care is the Province’s responsibility. We will push hard to make sure Langley City gets its fair share.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Hire more RCMP, Community Safety Officers (Bylaw) and Fire Fighters.
Advocate for the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) mental health nurse position in Langley to be filled.
Balance empathy with greater enforcement for a more balanced approach.
Review Fire Fighter contract negotiation process.
Remove section 102 from the Fire Fighters collective agreement which prohibits their union rep from talking to Council during contract negotiations.
Provincial advocacy for enhanced mental health and support services and cost recovery for downloading (e.g. Fire Fighter Medical Emergency Service Alarm MESA Calls).
Work with the RCMP to focus on the small number of repeat offenders responsible for much of our property crime.

TAXES AND THE BUDGET

The City of Langley has had the highest tax increases in the Metro Vancouver region with an increase of 38.5%, 21% above the rate of inflation. This is not sustainable. Certain departments have seen particularly large growth, such as the city administration department, which has increased per capita 72.58%. The past four budgets the exact same proposed base budget has been adopted by council, and the discussion has been what to add. We need to reform the budget process and strategy to see more reasonable taxation and seek cost efficiencies where possible.

These tax increases impact the cost of living across the board as they increase the prices of goods and services at businesses who pay a much higher tax rate compared to residential home owners.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Review consultant utilization.
Line by line review through the operational budget.
Establish a tender advisory board with private sector builders to advise on contracts. Goal being to bring down the cost of public contracts.
Consider rolling back some of the increases in city administration to reprioritize to public safety personnel.
Make better use of casino money.
Advocate against greater cost distributions for the Metro Vancouver IONA Wastewater Treatment Facility to Langley City residents.

BETTER MAINTENANCE AND FOCUS

We have an aging city and so many of our streets and sidewalks are in a state of disrepair. With the size of our city and considering our mill rate (tax rate – 6th highest in Metro) we deserve to have a city that’s being well maintained. Inefficient spending on temporary bike lanes, feasibility studies and consultant contracts takes capital away from other projects. Our team intends to focus on the basics and do the job right the first time for efficient use of tax dollars.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Focus on crosswalks, traffic calming, flood mitigation, sidewalks, pipes and roads.
No more poorly designed and “temporary” bike lanes (203rd and Douglas Crescent). Reduce investment into bike lanes while we review strategy.
Work with staff to ensure the basics are a primary focus in upcoming budgets.
Greater oversight and higher standards of work completed by contractors in the city.
Focus on accessibility.
Fund public restrooms in the downtown core (Portland Loo's).
Keep parks, trails and public washrooms clean, safe and well maintained.
Repair and widen trails and pathways so they work for seniors, strollers and wheelchairs.

HOUSING

Our community is growing rapidly. With provincially mandated density designations around Skytrain, our community is sure to continue to grow. As we welcome new residents into the City we must ensure we aren’t building housing for the sake of housing. Rather, we need to build housing alongside services and amenities for a livable community.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Not exceed densities outlined by the Province.
Focus density North of the Nicomekl.
Enhance our Tenant Relocation Policy to protect vulnerable residents.
Maintain long term aging (and affordable) rental stock by implementing a Standards of Maintenance Bylaw.
Stop approval of redevelopment of Environmentally Sensitive Areas and expand tree canopy alongside redevelopment.
Use development revenue wisely (DCC's & CAC's).
Implement an ACC bylaw for greater certainty around development revenue.
Work with SD35 to determine a school model and future school site in the city.

AMALGAMATION

Langley City deserves its own agency, autonomy and to be led by our residents. This term has been filled with far too much discussion about hypothetical takeovers. If and only if Langley City residents initiate a petition demonstrating significant support, would the Achieving for Langley City team consider commissioning an amalgamation study and potentially a referendum. It is not a focus of ours, nor it is it a policy objective. Rather, we acknowledge that elected officials in the City have a financial interest in the outcome. Thus, It is inappropriate to lead this charge in one way or the other. We are elected to serve city residents and delivering better outcomes for the City remains our focus.

Not a policy objective.

TOWNSHIP RELATIONSHIP

The Township of Langley has always been our strongest strategic partner. Fighting with the Township of Langley leadership cost city residents. Fresh faces are required to move past existing conflicts.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Consider renewed partnerships and collaboration where possible.
Work to resolve the ongoing RCMP dispute with the Township.

ELECTED TO SERVE

Elected officials work in service of residents and are supposed to be the intermediary between residents and the governing body. If we stop listening, a key function of our government is broken. Meaningfully listening must mean feedback can move the needle on outcomes. Council works best when it is responsive, engaged and working hard to improve the lived experience of our residents. Our team is also concerned with the rate that our affordable housing is being rapidly redeveloped, leaving long term residents and seniors in a vulnerable position. Residents make the community, and build our community and we need to make sure they are protected, considered and respected.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Be responsive and respond to emails and resident enquiries.
Bring forward motions where appropriate to address resident concerns.
Work with staff to amend the capital plan to prioritize concerns that have been brought forward through the campaign, making sure our priorities matter most to residents.
Hold the bureaucracy accountable and look at ways to improve customer service to residents.
Listen to and respect residents on critical votes, like the 6-storey apartment.

SKYTRAIN

Our transportation strategy is about keeping Langley moving while preparing for SkyTrain and future growth. That means investing properly in road repair and sidewalks, improving traffic flow and coordination along key corridors like 200th Street, and pushing for a fairer share of TransLink investment south of the Fraser. We will improve everyday accessibility with better bus stops, expanded HandyDART advocacy, a seniors shuttle and more transportation options for residents who do not drive. We will also advocate for clear provincial safety rules for e-scooters, and plan for the parking infrastructure Downtown will need as our City grows.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Meaningfully fund road repair.
Focus on sidewalks so residents can safely walk through communities and students can get to class.
Advocate alongside our neighbours for equitable investment for expanded bus service from TransLink south of the Fraser.
Advocate to the province for clear safety rules for e-scooters.
Support a seniors shuttle and expansion of other transportation options.
Work to align traffic lights along 200th street.
Develop a plan and budget to ensure bus stops are covered with benches.
Continue to advocate for better HandyDart service.
Ensure plans for a Downtown parkade deliver results.

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS

Our small business strategy focuses on creating the conditions businesses need to succeed: safer streets, reasonable taxes, less red tape and a Downtown that works better for customers and operators. We will work with the RCMP, the DLBA and local businesses to strengthen Business Watch and improve safety, while addressing problem businesses that are not operating within City rules. We will simplify business licensing and permitting, support the Permit Portal Pilot Project, and deliver practical improvements like better parking, public restrooms and more active sidewalks and public spaces. We will also protect industrial and employment lands so Langley City continues to support jobs, investment and a strong local economy.

ACHIEVING FOR LANGLEY CITY WILL

Expand the Business Watch program in partnership with the RCMP and the Downtown Langley Business Association (DLBA).
Work with the RCMP and business owners to restore safety downtown, making it easier to operate in the City.
Create a real plan to deliver parking and public restrooms in the Downtown Core.
Cut red tape by making business licensing and permitting simpler and faster.
Support the Permit Portal Pilot Project and other initiatives that improve efficiency.
Support activation of sidewalks and public spaces in partnership with businesses.
Protect industrial and employment lands from residential redevelopment.
Keep taxes reasonable, recognizing that businesses carry a higher tax rate.
Deal with the proliferation of businesses suspected of offering sex work in the Downtown Core. Conduct inspections and pull the business license(s).

Good ideas only matter if they lead to action. We are committed to setting clear priorities, making informed decisions, and measuring success by the results residents see in their everyday lives.