Langley Township council hopefuls clash over taxes, roads and transit at debate

Roads, transit and taxes were major themes at a Langley Township all-candidates meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, organized by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce. Council candidates were split into three groups of six or seven for the first part of the debate. Chamber CEO Cory Redekop posed questions for several candidates to answer before moving on. Several early questions focused on taxes. Incumbent Kim Richter, with the Langley Strong slate, said, “We’ve taken the Township’s credit card and we’ve run it up to the max.” Tim Baillie, an incumbent with Progress For Langley, challenged Langley Strong’s claim of a potential 22 per cent tax increase next year. “It shows the figures used in this election are political, to be kind,” he said, adding that capital debt is being paid down. June Park pointed to the large spike in inflation after COVID-19 and said, “Given that, we did a great job.”

Langley Strong candidate Teresa Townsley raised concerns about future borrowing capacity after another budget question, saying, “We do have an incredibly large debt.” Independent Mike Parker took up the same theme, asking, “Is politics getting in the way of accounting?” He argued that the Township needs to grow its business and industrial tax base. Progress For Langley’s Tess Rouse said new facilities are investments in the community. “Municipalities are not-for-profit businesses so they shouldn’t be run like one,” she said.

Asked about priorities for new recreation facilities, Progress For Langley’s Michael Pratt said the top priority should be a new Willoughby Community Centre. “Obviously, Brookswood is the next horizon for growth,” he said. On balancing urban and rural needs, Progress For Langley’s Michele St Germain said higher-density projects should be kept on major corridors such as 200 Street. Independent Benjamin Neff said, “First, we need clear boundaries.” Langley Strong’s Barb Martens said, “Farmland stays farmland.”

A planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along 200 Street came up several times, with most candidates in favour. Independent Leith White said, “I’m a big fan of BRT, I think it’s critical.” Progress For Langley’s Sarb Rai also supports the line and said the Township needs to invest in widening 200 Street, improving 86 Avenue and considering parking. Langley Strong’s Blair Whitmarsh suggested widening another road, calling Glover Road “a real choke point in the Township.” The slate’s Lauren Chalus said the community needs to be ready for SkyTrain with bus feeder networks and a parking strategy that lets people “park once and walk often.”

The meeting ended with a vigorous exchange between mayoral candidates: incumbent Eric Woodward of Progress For Langley and Jay Lundgren of Langley Strong. Lundgren argued that Township debt was out of control, while Woodward accused his opponent of gaslighting voters. The chamber was also scheduled to hold a debate for Langley City mayor and council candidates at Kwantlen Polytechnic University after press deadline on Monday, Oct. 5.