langleywatchdog…. and more!

The Social Engineering of the past is back…. It has now become their flavor of the day!

To be clear I am and have been a staunch free enterprise activist and supporter since 1975 working with and for free enterprise against a socialist movement, the NDP, initially to defeat the Dave Barrett government of 1972 – 75. (Read my BIO on this BLOG, link above.) That support was seriously tempered with the election of Gordon Campbell stemming from my past elected experiences serving with him at Metro Vancouver and completely off the board with the subsequent elections of Christy Clark and then Kevin Falcon. (Read my previous post) The actions of these free enterprise leaders caused their own just demise, in very dramatic fashion.

Fast forward to my support for the NDP starting back in March 2017. Explanation – Through an NDP friend we met with John Horgan (Pre 2017 election) – presenting our South Fraser Community Rail proposal – reactivating the Interurban Corridor with Interregional Passenger Rail Transit – Pattullo Bridge to the City of Chilliwack. (More on this proposal and its status in a future post.) That meeting went very well. John Horgan’s question – What was our ask? Should he be elected – we asked that he commission a comprehensive independent study for Rail Transit South of the Fraser. In short, we lobbied for that study in a Minority Government over 2 ½ years – that study was announced after his majority election win, in the Throne Speech of February 11^th, 2020. Beyond that issue, as there was never any guarantee, our support for John Horgan was broader than that, it stemmed from his personal connection with supporters, his common-sense approach to government, his pragmatism, and in our opinion his ability to neutralize many of the crazies (extremists) in his party. NOTE – every party has extremists left or right – it is how you deal with them and neutralize their impact that is important. You cannot get elected embracing the extremes!

To be clear, our extensive support for the NDP in 2020 went beyond the writings in this BLOG, they were personal and financial supporting our local MLA which continued, despite some local disappointment, up to a while after David Eby’s election as leader. We have been very disappointment on many fronts since then with the party and our local MLA in Langley Walnut Grove.

GOOD Government is just that, GOOD Government – This is not good government!

It is not a left or right issue.

As I said, the NDP’s new leader David Eby has disappointed on many fronts, everything counter to his predecessor – “He is NO John Horgan”. I/we were certainly willing to give him a chance, but to no avail. In an interesting aside, while I was writing this BLOG Post, Andrew Weaver, the former Green Party Leader, who negotiated a “Confidence and Supply Agreement” with John Horgan, which I might add allowed the NDP to win a Minority Government, giving them a chance to govern, wrote a very revealing Op-Ed, it says it all.

Andrew Weaver Quotes: – “Since Eby assumed the Premier’s Chair, radical ideological-driven activism, empty promises with destructive consequences, an out of touch hubris embody the hallmarks of his tenure.” Further he stated “It’s about pragmatism over politics.”

The NDP are now back to making decisions, absent any critical thinking, consultation or knowledge on so many issues. They have reverted back to their Social Engineering agenda on a wide variety of topics which they became well known for a few decades back.

Shortage of Housing? – The centrally controlled Eby administration, took what can only be described as a knee jerk reaction, (I describe their decisions as being brain dead!) to solve the serious housing shortage issue. The community ramifications of their new housing policy in Bills 44, 46 and 47 are so outrageous, I am almost speechless – as I said ALMOST!

In a media interview Eby conducted well before the introduction of these new Bills, after his public comments about what was to come, the media asked – “What about Parking”? His answer was “I am not worried about parking I am only worried about housing”? What world does David Eby live in?

To be clear, Municipal Governments are products of the Provincial Government who have full control over what municipalities can and cannot do through provincial legislation, however I would argue Municipal Governments are the hallmark of our democracy and are much closer to the people. Use a heavy handed and unwarranted hand against them without consultation, discussion and negotiation, an outrageous act, and you will pay the price! Overbearing moves involving the removal of community plans, eliminating zoning, eliminating public hearings on developments, eliminating parking requirements, allowing fourplexes or up to six units on a single-family lot in single family neighborhoods without local input or municipal approval, a one size fits all throughout the province disregarding each municipalities uniqueness, wishes and more, should leave all of us completely outraged and activated going into this year’s election.

The imposition of Bills 44,46, and 47 is the creation of a centralized campaign by Minister Ravi Kahlon and Premier David Eby who haven’t had one day of experience in Municipal elected office or on the issues faced by municipal governments and obviously haven’t spent a second of time considering the investments the public have made in their housing choice. It will not decrease the price of housing, but then why let the facts get in the way of a good story? It will ultimately destroy communities.

Minister Ravi Kahlon quote: Langley Advance Times (Mathew Claxton) – B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon stated “that doesn’t mean the end of the traditional single-family home just yet.” That statement sure gives you confidence? NOT!

Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward quotes: Woodward likened the legislation to “surgery on housing policy using a chainsaw”! A very appropriate comment! “When they take these policies and drop them on the whole province, they’re really ignoring the nuance of how different communities do development differently…. By ignoring that they are going to cause a lot of damage.” “Provincial politicians are not going to prevent me from listening to my community.”

Another very important negative aspect of this legislation is its lack of awareness and recognition of its impact on infrastructure needs. Community infrastructure needs are strategically identified through a provincially mandated process called the “Regional Growth Strategy” (RGS) to serve population and growth numbers agreed to, based on growth projections by the province and determined by their Regional District. (ie Metro Vancouver). All of this goes into identifying the municipalities and regions future needs for police, fire, roads, schools, community amenities, sewer, water, transit and more! As Mayor I was involved in updating our RGS in 2011, I know it well. Now you want to throw all of that out? At who’s expense and under who’s mandate?

Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) – Through Bill 47 they are creating TOAs forcing municipal governments to force approval of high-rise buildings between eight and 20 stories, minimum within 800 meters of a rapid transit station and within 400 meters of a bus exchange. That imposition is bad enough but it comes with a couple of important facts; there will be no parking requirements being applied to these developments (Meaning NO parking); and there will be no application of the traditional DCCs (Development Cost Charges) nor CACs (Community Amenity Contributions). The removal of the application of municipal costs, which pay for all of those infrastructure costs I previously identified, will cost the Township of Langley (You and I) millions of dollars therefore potentially forcing all existing property taxpayers (You and I) to pay for that shortfall.

“The problem here is that it will take a number of years to realize just how bad these decisions were and then it will be too late.”

The Decriminalization of small amounts of drugs? It cannot be better stated than Andrew Weaver’s statement on this issue – “The decision to decriminalize the use of small amounts of drugs while prescribing “safe” supply narcotics is a philosophy that emphasizes harm reduction at the expense of prevention, treatment and enforcement. Yet when Eby had to ask Health Canada to be able to recriminalize public drug use due to parks and streets being overrun, he blamed the courts rather than his shortsightedness for the course correction.” David Eby’s actions on this issue reflect his imposition of their Social Engineering at all of our expense!

Fiscal Management? Since John Horgan stepped down, the Eby Government has increased spending by 14% and 20% respectively. The debt has tripled since pre-pandemic levels in 2019 – 2020. As a result, two major credit-rating agencies have downgraded B.C. since Eby became Premier which no doubt will increase borrowing costs causing all of us higher taxes.

Solving the transportation crisis on Highway #1? Unfortunately, in what appears to be a deliberate act of public deception by the NDP, the truth is not being told to the public South of the Fraser, regarding the promised widening of highway #1. In what seems to be an endless number of press releases and press conferences, the goal posts continue to change in terms of the various phases of construction, their project start and completion dates, and a few projected phases providing NO dates whatsoever. Completion dates for Highway #1 widening is another 12 years away, just to Sumas Way – Chilliwack, years beyond that! This is just common sense! The South Fraser Community Rail Society have written extensively on this subject, distributing detailed newsletters providing relative facts and figures on this, (our) reality.

Solving the Interregional Public Transit crisis and shortfall South of the Fraser? First to be clear I support the widening of Highway #1 however also to be clear widening Highway #1 WILL NOT solve our public transit crisis regardless of when it is finished. Express buses on a congested highway not going to the destinations riders want does NOT constitute effective public transit.

So here are the facts – Despite John Horgan’s support, his announcement of the study we requested, the government’s labelling of the South Fraser Community Rail Society as a “Key Stakeholder”, the extensive input by the SFCRS into the study at its cost, the very positive outcome of that study – The South of Fraser Community Rail Society was not invited to participate in the “Key Stakeholders” Post-Study Engagement 1 & 2 nor were we ever advised of the conclusion of the study – That was discovered by us about a year and a half AFTER its conclusion via Freedom of Information (FOI). Despite repeated attempts over a full year, requesting a meaningful meeting with Minister Rob Fleming, we were denied after everything we did in support of this government’s efforts at their request and at our cost! A little over $1,000.! It was an act of total disrespect!

Despite the following unequalled, unmatched and unparalleled “Support” for a reactivated Interurban, South of the Fraser – All South of Fraser Municipalities 2009, 88% Public Support (ResearchCo) May 2021 Poll, John Horgan Sept. 2022, ALL Post Secondary Institutions, 2022 UFV Transportation Demand Strategy, June 2023 Township of Langley UBCM Resolution, 2024 Endorsement by the Lower Mainland Local Government Assoc., Surrey Board of Trade, Hydrogen B.C. / Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Assoc., 2023 B.C. Indigenous Housing Society, 2024 Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2022 B.C. Government Fraser Valley Regional Rail Pre-Feasibility Study.

The NDP have failed to respond to this priceless, public owned passenger rail opportunity – SkyTrain to Langley City does not cut it, a ridiculous cost! (Again, more on SkyTrain to Langley City in a future post!)

Summary: In my opinion the choice for the next provincial government has been narrowed considerably. I have written with full explanation, in my previous post, why I could not and would never endorse or support Kevin Falcon and B.C. United, in provincial politics the leader is key to any election. The Green Party is clearly of no relevance, that is just a fact. If you want to decide on the future direction of our/your government, that leaves the B.C. Conservative Party. It is important to look at the candidates running to represent you and your family’s values, but again the leader is key to its election. In my up close and personal experience of over 45 years, the MLA report card should be based on – what have they done to make your community stronger. Their job should not be measured on their actions as social butterflies in our communities bouncing from one social get together to another, rather it should be based on meaningful representation. In my opinion there are a number of government MLAs South of the Fraser that are buying into the direction of their party at the expense of their communities – they should be defeated because of their in-action.

In my view the actions of the MLAs for Langley Walnut Grove and Langley Willoughby receive a failing grade! There is no doubt you will hear all about bringing SkyTrain to Langley – Well be careful what you wish for – That real story will be coming in a future post with facts, not hyperbole. Annoyed about the Metro Vancouver out of control spending of your tax dollars, you haven’t seen nothing yet!

RG

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

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

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