There are some election issues everyone is talking about, and some issues no one is talking about, said mayoral candidate Jack Froese.
Congestion and the pace of development are on everyone’s mind, Froese said, noting that the Township is still projected to grow at about three per cent a year. That means issues with congestion and roads.
A two-term mayor, Froese points to improvements, incluidng the widening of the 208th Street interchange and the new Labonte connector.
“The 216th Street interchange is going to help,” Froese said.
Crime is another key issue, and Froese supports keeping the RCMP in place as the local police force, rather than moving to a municipal force.
“There’s pros and cons to both,” Froese said.
However, he said one of the biggest cons to a change would be increased cost – the federal government picks up 10 per cent of the cost of local RCMP detachments, and a switch would mean the Township would have to buy RCMP assets.
“It would cost our tax payers quite a bit more,” Froese said.
Another issue looming for the new council this fall will be the Quality Inn supportive housing project, which could give permanent residences to up to 49 people living on the streets of Langley.
“I want to hear from the public, but from what I’ve heard so far, I support it,” Froese said, noting that it won’t solve the entire problem of homelessness in the Langleys.
As for the issues no one’s talking about much, Froese said cannabis and its regulation will be a challenge for the new council. Marijuana becomes legal three days before the vote.
Local councils will have authority over retail licences and zoning, and Froese said no one has all the answers, but the council will have to reach out to residents on the topic.
A tree bylaw is also on the horizon – the council is scheduled to consider one again soon. The issue has been divisive in the past. Froese wants to hear from property owners and look at how other communities nearby have implemented tree cutting bylaws.
The Township is also considering a major new museum complex in Fort Langley.
“If we can do it, it comes down to funding,” said Froese. The plan at present is to fund much of the cost by developing Township-owned land in the Fort.
On the environment, the Township can keep building its own structures for energy efficiency and encourage getting residents to recycle more and produce less garbage for landfills.