langleywatchdog…. and more!

Now let me see if I understand this, Metro Vancouver asked for proposals that would generate some revenue, and they come up with this??? The Township of Langley by virtue of our make-up of small hobby / horse farm properties has over the years become “The Horse Capital of B.C.” With well over 6,000 horses within our borders attracted through the years by attractions such as Campbell Valley Park and much more. It appears there are some elected officials willing to sell the horse community out! The very substantial horse industry tax base deserves far more respect from their elected members of Council!

To be honest with you, when I first heard about this suggestion I dismissed it out of hand believing it was a pie in the sky idea from the likes of Murray Jones of the Langley Speedway Historical Society. Murray Jones ran for Council and after my election in 2008 campaigned the idea of reopening the track. Well it appears to me and it was surprising, that Councilor Gayle Martin of Langley City, current Vice Chair and past Chair of the Metro Parks Committee seems to think it wasn’t a bad idea? This was counter to staff’s recommendations. Gayle, what are you drinking?

In reading some media writing on the subject and looking at quotes from elected members of the committee, it is absolutely dumbfounding what and how they think. Although after my three years in the Mayor’s Office nothing should surprise me.

So in reading these comments, Councilor Bob Long, yes that same Township of Langley Councilor that has built a reputation for himself for not seeking out anything that required too much work states “I think it is a philosophical Question”? What? Am I hearing that right? OH sure there is a philosophical bent to the argument, but that park use decision was made many years ago. NO Councilor Long, the primary argument against this idea is SAFETY.

Anyone who has been around horses for five minutes will understand, see and know that Auto Racing and Horses are as compatible as oil and water!! They just do not mix! This applies to the high volume of Equestrian park users who come from every corner of the lower mainland and beyond who would run in conflict with this proposed use. An estimated 100,000 equestrian users per year!

There will be THE inevitable number of equestrian accidents. Who pays? Who wants to take that responsibility? I would love to hear the legal defense argument as a result of the inevitable law suit(s) against Metro Vancouver and it’s member municipalities for approving this non-compatible use as a result of a serious equine accident. That isn’t just a possibility it is absolutely inevitable.

You know politics requires a lot of common sense, unfortunately we have and have had a serious common sense deficit on our Council for years and thanks to what you have to offer, that deficit has been extended to your regional responsibilities. Having been elected for the number of years that you have, claiming all of the knowledge you claim to have about the Township of Langley, it boggles the mind this idea would be remotely considered. Philosophical, not a chance! But then again I rest my case!

What also should be obvious, but doesn’t seem to be, is the negative affect Auto Racing would have on surrounding horse properties, not the least of which is the Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities situated right at the entrance to that portion of the park being suggested. This would force them to cease operating, at the very least, for the time period the track was being used, of course any member of Township Council who did their homework would know this and the good this society does for the entire lower mainland.

Beyond all of this, there would be an extensive amount of work needed on roads leading to this facility, 208th. Who pays? There would be an extensive amount of work needed on-site. Who pays?

While those of us, residents of the Township of Langley, know by their actions that consideration of public input through public meetings and/or public hearings is a foreign idea or concept to our Township of Langley Council; I have every confidence that Metro Directors, should it go this far and I hope it doesn’t, would introduce and welcome a public process!

Members of the Metro Vancouver Board and Parks Committee, I urge you, on behalf of the horse community throughout the lower mainland, please stop this insanity now and say no!

If there is a bent on finding a home for Auto Racing, please find a location that makes some “Common Sense”!

Rick Green

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Note: Sorry for the delay between posts but I was undertaking another computer upgrade!

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe are of significant concern to Township of Langley Residents. Check in daily!

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

If you ran your personal life or business this way you would be bankrupt in a heart-beat! One of the major surprises I was confronted with was the Township budgeting process and practice. It was obviously a product of years of senior staff control, leading Council around by the nose. On being elected I introduced a NEW “Mayor’s Standing Committee of Finance”, permitted under the Community Charter. From the outset Council was opposed. Here is the complete story about what really happens with your tax dollars and Council’s complete lack of due diligence in getting value for money!

In keeping with the objective of this BLOG, I am dealing with the finance issue, not to rehash the past or re-fight the last election but to use the past and my personal experience in the Mayor’s office to inform and educate the electorate about the facts. Hopefully this information will be helpful when looking at candidates in the 2014 Municipal Election.

Am I qualified to criticize or offer advice for change? I have had considerable business experience, both in the corporate world and in owning my own large lower mainland supermarket doing in the neighborhood of $7 million per year. With close to a million dollar payroll, certification with three unions, 38 employees operating on (at the time) a 1.75% net bottom line, I know what it takes to be fiscally responsible. It is that or you see your life savings flushed down the toilet! I have also had the privilege of serving on Delta Council concentrating heavily on financial issues, Metro Vancouver Finance Committee, Metro Vancouver Director and an Alternate Director of the Municipal Finance Authority. So, in short I had the experience to take it on but nobody could have prepared me for what I was about to find out in the Township of Langley.

Why the need for change, a look back is in order. It is important to put everything into perspective, given my criticism of the budgeting process as well as tax and spending increases in the Township of Langley. A big part of my platform that I ran on was a commitment for a 0% tax increase for three years, coupled with the establishment of a “Property Endowment Trust and Trust Fund”. (I covered this in my previous BLOG Post so will skip the detail here) I made it very clear that one could not happen without the other. Obviously, with that promise made (and I did not make that promise lightly) we had to bring change to the culture within the Township of Langley Municipal Hall and I was well aware that would not be easy.

Tax and Spending History:

The reasons for my criticism are real not imagined!

Tax Increases –

• 2002 to 2008   + 26%                 6 years
• 2002 to 2011   + 40.49%           9 years
• 2002 to 2013   + 46.29%           11 years

A compound tax increase of over 46% in 11 years!

• How many residents had a 46% increase in pay over this period of time?
• B.C.’s Cost of Living since 2002 was only       +17.9%              (Stats Canada / B.C.)
• Spending Increases – Over 3 times the cost of living!

So why would I so strongly criticize our Council of the day and introduce a 0% Tax Increase over three years coupled the Property Endowment Trust and Trust Fund, both in the 2008 election that we won and the 2011 election that we lost? Was it based on a sound principle and plan or a pie in the sky political promise?

Contrary to what members of Council might suggest it was based on a sound foundation of proven experience endorsed by a professional at the Center of Vancouver’s very successful and very active program of today and over the past 25 + years. Despite the success in a number of other municipalities and cities, a response from Councilor Ferguson says it all – in a work shop session in response to a detailed presentation stated “This is Langley it won’t work out here – we are different!” That says it all, unfortunately it speaks to the culture, complete lack of work ethic and ignorance is bliss attitude that exists in our municipality from our elected leaders.

Despite the opposition, I set up the Mayor’s Standing Committee of Finance. The Committee consisted of three members of Council – Mayor Green, Councilors Ferguson and Richter plus three members of our community – a Federal Govt. Auditor (retired), a lawyer and the Senior Managing Partner (CA) of a National Accounting Firm (just retired). It was my intent to have this committee meet and work with Council while they were going through the budget process, all in an effort to assist within the established Council Priorities Committee. They would only be an advisory service to Council, that was the plan. All decisions obviously are and would always be in the hands of the elected Council.

For whatever their reason and I can only imagine why, Council decided they would leave the budgeting process to the Standing Committee who would report back to Council with their recommendations in a timely manner. Well it went down-hill from there, thanks to the immature actions and display by Councilors Ward and Ferguson who at one point crashed a working Committee of Finance Meeting with firefighters and the Langley Advance in tow. Another set up, you bet it was! I was accused of everything from deciding budget changes in private and Council being cut out of the process. Nothing could have been further from the truth and they knew it, but the local press, by virtue of their reporting of the incident, bought into it hook, line and sinker. But Council members got the splash in the local press that they were looking for and typical of the local press they presented a one sided view with no attempt at being objective! What an absolute embarrassment to have three private citizens going through that public debacle!

Now, for clarification, there are many municipalities that utilize Standing Committees for this purpose and it is very clear that this is a Mayor’s prerogative. In all of my years in public office I have never seen such an embarrassing display by elected members of Council against an initiative by the Mayor. To achieve anything we had to break away from the entrenched process that was in place. Unfortunately they (Council members) would fight every initiative that I suggested, regardless of the support from the electorate in the 2008 election.

Despite the difficulties the Mayor’s Standing Committee of Finance faced going through this process and to their credit, members of the Standing Committee persevered and were committed to doing the job they signed on for at NO COST to the Municipal Taxpayer.

Our committee put in dozens and dozens of hours, both in committee and at home. We met with every department going line by line from the outset; something that staff was not used of doing. Scrutiny can be a tough thing! Something that staff had obviously never experienced before!

As an example, at the start of our committee process and in discussions with the CAO, our committee member who is a retired CA from a prominent accounting firm stated he would like to see us adopt a 0 based budgeting format, to which our CAO replied, we do, it is modified 0 based budgeting. That comment just reflects senior staff’s unwillingness for change. Most professionals in the business will tell you, there is no such thing – It is either O based or it is not!

So in conclusion what was the result?

Our Mayor’s Standing Committee of Finance presented a well thought out and prepared brief to Council with a number of recommendations. They were not of the slash and burn variety regardless of the comments by some members of Council at the time, quite the contrary. After a presentation of about a half hour to forty minutes in length there was not one question asked of the committee by any member of Council.

An Interesting side-NOTE: It is interesting to note that the local press, Langley Times and the Advance, despite the work done by private citizens, ignored the recommendations and work put forward by them. I wonder why? Unfortunately this inaction is in keeping with their growing reputation of non-objective reporting the local press has within the Langleys! Again WHY, one has to be concerned and wonder why? Could it be concern for the $250,000 in advertising spending done yearly by the TOL split between the two of them? Just asking?

Mayor’s Standing Committee of Finance Report to Council – Content – Sowing the reasons and need for prudence the Committee provided detail on all of the following.

• Economic Information and Statistics – A selection of concerning economic news both current and near to medium future.
• A list of 13 Cities/Municipalities showing their tax increase histories.
• A Summary of actual Spending and Budget comparisons of 10 Cities/Municipalities.
• Six key Budget Recommendations to Township of Langley Council, including detailed numbers verified by staff as a result of the recommendations. All Sources / All Revenue / All Expenses)
• Eight General Budget Recommendations to Township of Langley Council on the following categories:
  • Revenue
  • Budgetary Process
  • Salaries / Wages / Benefits
  • Fleet Management
  • Information Technology
  • Fire Fighting

and

• Seven individual comments and recommendations from the committee.
• Staff Positions / RE Staff New requests for the period 2009 – 2012.

NOTE: – Each category above obviously contained a number of recommendations, thoughts and items for consideration by Council. (There was no consideration given)

Revenue Recommendation: One recommendation we put forward was implementing a “Cost of Growth Study” with a view, if substantiated by the study, to subsequently implement a “Community Amenity Contribution” program. This process has been implemented in numerous progressive Cities and Municipalities throughout the province designed to extract voluntary contributions from the development community based on their proposal and costs coming out of the “Cost of Growth Study”. This is not an anti-development stand but is a tool that has been court tested and delivers significant benefits back to the community that otherwise would not be achieved. For the record, UDI (Urban Development Institute) consisting of the development community is opposed to such a plan. Having said that, IF the Cost of Growth Study justified such a program it would have to be substantially less costly than Vancouver, in other words a made in Township plan designed around our needs and costs. It wasn’t about implementing it without study, but is about exploring new opportunities. It seems in the Wild Wild West of Land Deals and Development in the Township of Langley, those gaining significantly are being protected by Council and Staff. WHY? The mismanagement that is going on in the Township is costing taxpayers directly a significant price! I have many concerns about what is really going on in the NEW Carvolth Community Plan. Up to 18 stories – what is being given back to the community in exchange for that license to print money? Who is benefitting? I see Kurt Alberts is representing one of the developers and is supportive. Surprise!

At the conclusion of the presentation of the report to Council they (Council) ignored the Standing Committee’s report recommendations entirely (including a .95% tax increase) and adopted a 5% tax increase within five minutes of receiving the committees report.

It is interesting to note that after going through this extensive process in my first year, recognizing that by their actions Council was not the slightest bit interested in doing the work necessary in the budgeting process, we folded the committee. This was done after a conversation with members of the committee about whether they wanted to continue, and they agreed it would be a waste of time given the complete lack of respect Council had for their work. It is beyond unfortunate!

I was asked by a few members of Council why I didn’t continue with the Mayor’s Standing Committee of Finance? – What can I say “They just don’t get it!” On the other hand I believe they do get it and it is further proof they were only interested in being as obstructionist as possible at the expense of the Taxpayer.

So why should you be concerned about your municipally elected leaders handling your tax dollars!            

A short and quick review of the history of tax increases, spending increases, staff increases and the budget process will only lead you in one direction and to one conclusion – Township of Langley Municipal Hall is out of control, staff are in charge! The Fox is definitely running the Hen House!

In Closing I will repeat my last public comments made while Mayor prior to the final budget vote in 2011. It should be noted and obvious by this time that my comments were not published in any fashion by the local press, but by this time I wasn’t surprised! –

My closing budget comments before the 2011 budget was adopted by Council –

“In response to a number of comments made by Council members in the press with respect to my involvement in the Budget Process – I am not going to get into a war of words with members of Council over the budgeting, spending and taxation process. My position is and has been clear leading up to the last election and through three budget cycles. Nothing that I have seen and heard since has changed my mind of what is possible and what is wrong.”

“Comments made about me publicly by members of Council – I have been a passenger through this process. I can’t budget without a committee or suggesting I am blaming staff. (All of this is patent nonsense and ignores the history of the last 2 ½ years.)”

“Year 1, against the wishes of Council I established a Standing Committee of Finance which included three very qualified Township residents and three members of Council. Council chose to sit that process out.”

“After 5 months of work a comprehensive report was submitted with detailed recommendations attached. Not one question was asked and Council immediately approved a 5% tax increase. Now lets be clear that it is their right, however it also sent a very strong message to myself and taxpayers that it would be business as usual. There were a number of unfortunate incidents through the process.”

“Now lets deal with the issue of somehow – reduced taxation equates to reduced services -. I know it is hard for some at this table to understand, but nothing could be further from the truth. You see, I am not afraid to listen to new ideas, I believe the taxpayer rightfully expects that. We should look at –

• Service reviews
• Service Audits
• Creative service delivery
• Value for money

I have never suggested or accepted a reduction in protective services.

My comment that it was a staff budget (2011 budget)! This is a fact and is not a criticism of staff, they did their job. They provided Council with a provisional budget on the first of December 2010 for the 2011 year. That budget should have gone through a serious vetting by members of Council through a workshop format in a number of workshops and then with a Council stamp on the budget, go to a public Open House. What is before us today and Council is now prepared to adopt, is a virtual carbon copy of Staff’s Provisional Budget. I rejected it in December and reject it today.”

I have skipped some of my closing comments in the above in closing debate on the 2011 budget, but the above gives you an idea, in my view about where we are going wrong. As I have repeated before –

The Definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again….

 expecting a different result!

Budgets will grow, taxes and spending will increase with a continuing lack of oversight.

The only time things will change is when you elect a NEW Council!

Rick Green

__________________________________________________________________

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe are of significant concern to Township of Langley Residents. Check in daily!

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

 

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

 

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

Shocked is an understatement, how was this result possible? No different than anyone else I along with most of the province, including most Liberals if they were honest, never saw this coming. Unfortunately my fear is that the Liberals will misread the true meaning behind this win and they will become even more arrogant than before, if that is possible. As I have said before, as an ardent Free Enterpriser I could never vote NDP and with the record of the Liberals I could not vote for them; I was looking for another option!

I woke up this morning asking myself what just happened. Was I dreaming or was last night real?

OH well, I may as well join the masses and offer my post mortem analysis of last night’s election results. It is interesting to listen and watch all the media interviews of insiders and outsiders as to their views of what went right or wrong. Obviously the insiders, those most closely associated with the guts of the chosen campaign strategy are taking all the credit in the world, but it is interesting they choose to look at what went right as opposed to what their opponents did wrong! This was Adrian Dix’s election to lose and that he did it in spades!

The NDP – Politics, regardless of the popular mythology is a Blood Sport and is not for the faint of heart. It does not nor should it be personal, but it should clearly define the differences between you and the other guy. What defines the difference? The NDP campaign from the outset was positioned to take the high road and be nice with no attacks. Sorry but by mid campaign it was a bland and milk toast message. There was no definition of the ballot box question. At the same time Dix, later in the campaign does a serious flip flop on the Kinder Morgan issue which I believe was a serious error on his part. At the same time, you might recall, Dix told everyone who would listen at the start of the campaign, in response to questions from the media, that everyone would know by voting day what he stood for and what would happen under his leadership. What did we hear; he will conduct a review after the election on virtually every issue. Sorry that didn’t cut it for those that were looking for another viable option. So in my view the NDP lost this one!

The Liberals – From the outset the Liberals ran a negative campaign designed to attack Dix personally (for the forged memo scandal) and concentrate on history. (the NDP 90s) It is interesting that the B.C. Liberals carried enough baggage to satisfy numerous campaign needs but none of it was used by the NDP against them. The Liberals concentrated and hammered home a continual litany of lies referring to their record on debt and deficit and who would best manage provincial affairs. They concentrated on selling the public on paying off our deficit on an iffy LNG program 15 – 20 years out, regardless of the facts of this industry in the world economy. In other words they didn’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

To the Liberal’s credit they brought on a number of high profile new candidates that to my surprise and I believe many others, got elected. But the question has to be asked could the B.C. Liberals have won without the abject failure of the NDP strategy? An interesting question?

The B.C. Conservative Party – In my view this is the single largest failure IF there was to be a change of government. The litany of events within the B.C. Conservative Party over the past two years destroyed any chance of gaining respectability. This responsibility lies firmly at the feet of John Cummins going back to the day he took over leadership of the party. It was THE chance to build a centrist free enterprise option. To do this there had to be a will for inclusion which clearly didn’t happen. It is unfortunate because there were a number of very good candidates that frankly, given the recent history, could not get any respect or traction. That is not a reflection on them; it is a reflection on the B.C. Conservative Party and its leadership. (or lack of). Do they have an opportunity to rebound for the next election, that will be entirely up to the B.C. Liberal Party and Government? There was an opportunity (ie B.C. Liberals 1991 vintage) but they blew that opportunity.

Summation – So can this win be attributed to the genius of the Liberal Campaign Team or to an NDP screw up? There is probably enough in this equation for both. At the end of the day, and who among us would dispute that they have heard from friends relatives and neighbors that they were going to hold their nose and vote Liberal. That in my opinion was a result of the fear driven by the actions and statements of Dix as well as the barrage of messages from the Liberals. Unfortunately issues such as the file on B.C. Rail and Basi / Virk are closed; I am sure much to the delight of Christy Clark and Rich Coleman.  That, in my opinion is the sad post note to this election.

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe are of significant concern to Township of Langley Residents. Check in daily!

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

All of those that have been a part of this B.C. Liberal Government have been an absolute embarrassment to the principles and ideals of Free Enterprise in British Columbia. The only measuring stick taxpayers can use is past performance; can you in good conscience support the past actions of this government?

This B.C. Liberal Government is a sad testimony compared to the rich history of Free Enterprise in British Columbia. When I hear the likes of Rich Coleman and Christy Clark mouth the names of W.A.C. Bennett and Bill Bennett trying to align themselves for comparative purposes, it is frankly quite sickening. Nobody in Victoria today could hold a candle to the vision and management skills of WAC or Bill Bennett.

What is even more pathetic is watching the likes of Rich Coleman, Christy Clark and Mary Polak try to sell the cock and bull story that these are the NEW Liberals; when in fact they and many more currently in a leadership position in this government are responsible for the following list of ill-conceived, ill-planned and ill-timed events. Adding a few new candidates who are doing nothing more than doing a favour for the Liberal Party in a futile attempt to affect renewal, under pressure, does not change the structure and/or leadership of this party or Government. It is still the same party and the same government that is absent of any moral conviction. It is still a corrupt party and government!

Don’t forget the following when voting May 14^th…………………

1.      HST! – Introduction of the HST despite pre-election promises not to. Never before has a government raised the ire of the electorate as the B.C. Liberals did over this one. The sad reality is the debate wasn’t about whether this was good or bad tax policy it was about the fact the B.C. Liberal Government lied to the taxpayers. FACT – It was a $2 Billion transfer of tax burden from business to the consumer!

 2.      B.C. Rail Sale! – The sale of B.C. Rail despite pre-election promises not to. OH sorry it was a 999 year lease. (Just a thought, how many countries will exist in 999 years? How insulting!) To refresh everyone’s memory one of a very few reasons Gordon Campbell lost the 1996 election to the NDP was he campaigned on selling B.C. Rail. So in 2001 that issue was off their platform. What happened – the B.C. Government sold B.C. Rail, they lied to the taxpayers.

 3.      Basi / Virk $6 million pay-out! – The pay-off of $6 million to Basi and Virk in exchange for a guilty plea. On the eve of Gary Farrell Collins testifying at the B.C. Rail trial the B.C. Government comes out with a settlement in exchange for a guilty plea and they pay off their legal fees of $6 million. The latest revelations courtesy of Jas Johal Global Television is proof of the wrong doings outlined by John van Dongen which outlines the agreement between Government and Basi / Virk. The Liberal Government actually expected the public to believe their version of events, what unfettered garbage.

 4.      Refused an inquiry on B.C. Rail / Basi and Virk to ensure public transparency! Given the justified public suspicion and profile of this issue, the B.C. Liberal Government could have solved their problem by holding a transparent public judicial inquiry. IF THERE WAS NOTHING TO HIDE why not! What is the TRUTH Rich Coleman – you were in Cabinet?

 5.      Claims of being the lowest tax regime in the country! – An absolutely false claim when taking into account the wide-ranging increases of user fees in every area of the Provincial Government starting with dramatic increases in HSP (Health Services Plan). I now believe from the outset this was all part of the Liberals master plan. Lower our marginal tax rates and make up the shortfall in user fees that are most often than not a significant burden on those that can least afford it. This type of action is just another character and moral flaw among many.

 6.      Translink, a dysfunctional corporation thanks to this government! A complete failure to lower mainland residents by failing to work with lower mainland Mayors to find a sustainable funding model for Translink while hiding behind the secretive Private Board of Directors they established. I was sitting at the Mayor’s Translink Council and experienced first-hand the complete arrogance and contempt the B.C. Liberal Government had for the Mayors of the region. They had an incredible opportunity to be a part of a partnership, unfortunately their arrogance got in the way. Now, with defeat staring them straight in the eye, we have Mary Polak agreeing to set up a special committee to help solve that problem this fall. Does Mary Polak actually believe she will be there? Mary, all of this was just too late.

 7.      B.C. Hydro and Rich Coleman’s mismanagement! – The Liberal Government’s (Minister Rich Coleman) complete mishandling of the B.C. Hydro file, turning B.C. s jewel of a Crown Corporation into a fiscal basket case. BC Hydro has signed long term contracts with various “green power producers” who are generating via “run of the river, solar and wind power”. These contracts call for power to be purchased at rates which represent 3, 4 and 5 times the current retail price of power. You cannot buy product at several times your resale price and make it up in volume. Two major power producers in California-PG&E and Southern California Edison filed for bankruptcy due to these ill-conceived concepts over a decade ago. BC Hydro seems to enjoy using “off balance sheet deferral accounts” so the true nature of their red ink generating activities are not seen on a daily basis by BC taxpayers-this was one of the major shortcomings leading to the downfall of Enron-the major power trading and wheeling entity which got BC Hydro’s PowerEx stuck with several hundred million dollars of unpaid bills with the State of California and charges of collusion. Do we want to put BC Hydro-which has the second lowest power rates in North America-at financial risk?

This Crown Corporation will be the key to attracting industry to BC just as Hydro Quebec uses North America’s lowest rates as the ultimate incentive to bring business to Quebec.

The B.C. Auditor General has severely criticized B.C. Hydro and the Liberal Government for special deferral accounts estimated at $2.1 billion expected to increase to $4.7 billion by 2014. Further they have Implemented Smart Meters at the cost of $1 Billion with absolutely no consultation or communication at a time that we are enduring a tough economy. This debt that is being put off to a later date. Rich Coleman’s defense is so pathetic it is no defense at all!

 8.      South Surrey Casino and Rich Coleman’s questionable involvement and interference! – As minister responsible for gaming in B.C. Rich Coleman was actively at the center of the promotion of a $100 million South Surrey Casino project. He is the regulator not the promoter, or is there more to this Rich? Interfering with local elected officials by contacting members of council during deliberations and public hearings is totally out of line. As or even more serious is his defense of his actions, clearly he just doesn’t get it.

 9.      Deficit lie! – Perpetrating a massive lie on the electorate prior to the last election (2009) with respect to the budgeted deficit erroneously pegged at $450 Million coming in after the election at what $1.86 Billion?

 10.     Selling off 100 Crown owned properties! – Selling off an estimated value of $800 million in order to balance the provisional 2013 budget. This by any standard is wrong, you do not sell off capital assets (actual value unknown until sold) to cover operating costs. It is the law of diminishing returns. So what do we sell off next year? This is like selling the family silver to pay today’s food bill, what do we sell tomorrow?

 11.       An $11 Million shameless Ethnic Voter scandal! – Utilizing publicly funded partisan staff to pay for partisan activities while underfunding persists in the Ministry of Families and other ministries.

Free Enterprisers DO HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE IN THE UPCOMING B.C. General Election!

This is just a partial list of so many incidents of wrong doing by this Liberal Government. As I have said before, you could not write this stuff! But it goes beyond the dysfunctional government in Victoria; it is also about how many senior Cabinet Ministers view their role as it pertains to relationship with local government. We have seen first-hand the bullying and intimidation practiced by Rich Coleman in telephone calls to elected Councilors in Surrey. Where else is this practiced? – Township of Langley? City of Langley? A good question we should all be asking ourselves.

The Provincial Liberal Government has breached the trust of the taxpayer in virtually all aspects of provincial governance in British Columbia. They cannot hide from that responsibility, and that failure.

IF the B.C. Liberal Government is supported by your vote it will be taken as a vote of confidence in everything they are responsible for. Is that what you want or they deserve?

After the NDP released their fiscal framework, Rich Coleman was interviewed and said it was disgusting – Well Rich I will tell you, and I believe the voters will tell your party on May 14^th, what is really disgusting is your government and what you have done to this province! Look in the mirror and with any luck you won’t like the guy looking back at you!

REMEMBER – Free Enterprise DOES HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE IN THIS ELECTION!

I have been following this election campaign literally hourly along with all of it’s twists and turns. As Mayor I would never publicly comment in a partisan way leading up to a Federal and Provincial Election however that is not the case today. I won’t insult anyone by trying to tell them who to vote for, that is a personal decision. In this BLOG Post I have laid out the reason and rationale for my vote – It is all about integrity and the Liberals have failed!

Rick Manuel – B.C. Conservative Party

Rick is a solid candidate and citizen who I believe would work very hard in Victoria FOR ALL residents of Fort Langley Aldergrove.

IMPORTANT – VOTE May 14^th, 2013. – If you don’t vote, you can’t complain!! 

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe are of significant concern to Township of Langley Residents, come back often for news of interest to Township residents.

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

When is this insanity going to stop? At the same meeting (Public Hearing) as the Tuscan Farm Development Permit Application for 65 homes was heard this past Monday; despite hearing serious concerns related to development on farmland, sewage treatment and more, Council votes to approve the Development Permit! What was the hurry?

Well I guess Mayor Froese and the majority of Council are determined to prove the following correct… It is mind boggling but true! Monday’s Public Hearing is further proof, not that we needed any, that the majority of your Municipal Council disrespects your views and your concerns!

Just look at the following comments (quotes) from a few members of Council. It is hard to believe these people are elected to represent us thinking like this:

Mayor Jack Froese and a majority of Council objected to the letters sent by those opposing the University / Wall application and their unwillingness to appear at the Public Hearing saying that just because the groups didn’t get their way doesn’t mean council was ignoring them.

• Councilor Bob Long said “Somebody should write these folks and explain how the public hearing process works”. The Mayor agreed!
• Councilor Charlie Fox bristled at the tone of the letters, calling some of the comments “offensive”.
• Mayor Froese stated “They obviously don’t understand Public Hearings” and “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I certainly do listen”.

(Pete McMartin Vancouver Sun column on Mayor Jack Froese) Nov. 29/12 RE Coulter Berry Building in Fort Langley:

Mayor Froese was asked why he voted for it despite the evidence of so much local opposition states:

• “He does not govern by petition”.

Of the preponderance of speakers opposing the variance at the official hearings Mayor Froese states:

• “We really have to listen to the silence of the people who didn’t come out.”

Pete McMartin states “How Froese intuited that this absent cohorts silence was in favor of the Coulter Berry development and not against it, or split down the middle, is a mystery I will leave with him. Politicians have powers of the mind I cannot fathom.” Despite the size of the opposition only one councilor voted against it, it sure says something about what is going on, doesn’t it!

Summary

Yes you are correct, this is becoming very repetitious and I am going to continue to hammer this point home until taxpayers and residents, hopefully, take notice and are willing to stand up and say NO to the insider dealings in the Township of Langley. As I have repeatedly said, connect the dots and follow the money! For any of you that would like to suggest this is a Conspiracy Theory…. It is NOT! I would suggest there is more to this story than meets the eye, stay tuned!

Note: Sorry for the delay between posts but I was undertaking a computer upgrade!

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe are of significant concern to Township of Langley Residents. Check in daily!

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

 

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