AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree new year’s resolution must focus on inflation

Langley Advance Times runs a weekly feature, call it “At Your Service.”

It’s another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.

Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.

Alternating between elected groups, Langley City and Langley Township councils, Langley school board, Langley MLAs, and Langley MPs each have a chance to participate.

The answers provided will be published in their entirety online each Sunday.

.

MOST RECENT – AT YOUR SERVICE: Political views aside, MLAs wish residents health and safety this holiday

.

QUESTION

Both Langley MPs were asked the same question: What is one thing you resolve to do in 2023 to make life better for your Langley constituents?

.

ANSWERS

MP John Aldag

A. One thing I resolve to do to improve the lives of my constituents is to continue supporting policies that provide inflation relief.

This fall, the Liberal government doubled the GST Tax Credit, provided a one time $500 top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit, and introduced the Canada Dental Benefit for children under 12. These policies are targeted towards low and middle-income Canadians.

I also voted in favour of our government’s fall economic statement, which permanently eliminated interest on Canada student loans and Canada apprentice loans, and issues advance payments of the Canada Workers Benefit to those who qualified for the benefit in the previous year.

Although supportive of the GST Tax Credit, the Conservatives decided to vote against every other measure our government designed to deliver inflation relief to Canadians.

It just goes to show that the Conservative members are happy to raise the issue of inflation, but have no plan of their own on how to address it themselves.

Although the federal government has acted on the items mentioned above, there is still work to do in 2023.

In fact, the 2023 pre-budget vonsultations are now open, and I want to hear what you think are the best ways to support Canadians and Canadian businesses. You can email my office atJohn.Aldag@parl.gc.caor call604-575-6595to share your ideas.

This is your budget, and I want to hear what matters most to you.

Happy Holidays everyone!

.

MP Tako van Popta

A. Inflation is always a threat to society because it undermines the wealth and prosperity of a nation and its citizens.

It affects people whose paycheques aren’t keeping up with the cost of living; it affects seniors who see the cost of goods and services going up while their investment portfolios take a hit as stock and bond markets react to higher interest rates.

And it affects the federal government, which is now spending almost as much on servicing their accumulated and growing debt as on health transfers to provinces.

None of this is new; this is how economies react to inflation.

What is new is that inflation is higher than it has been in 40 years. People under 40 have never experienced significant inflation, but today they are feeling its effects in very real and painful ways.

Today’s question is what I resolve to do in for 2023 to make life better for the people of Langley.

Simple: I will continue to do what the Conservative opposition has been doing for months in highlighting that the Liberal government’s easy money policies these last seven years have led to too many dollars chasing too few goods, resulting in inflation.

We need to get back to the comfortable balance we have enjoyed for the last 40 years, but that may not happen under the current tax-and-spend administration.

So, my 2023 resolution to continue being part of an effective opposition party may have to include defeating the Liberal government in a non-confidence vote and force an election.

.

UP NEXT

Next week, Langley City councillors are being asked: What will the City do to protect structures near the floodplain from future rainstorms that cause major floods?

.

Watch for their answers online Sunday.

.

PAST COVERAGE

AT YOUR SERVICE: City council weighs in on supervised consumption sites

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley trustees applaud positives found amid pandemic

AT YOUR SERVICE: Township council weighs in on lack of industrial land

AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs see feds as partners in SkyTrain to Langley

AT YOUR SERVICE: Creating more housing, on all fronts, critical to stabilization: MPs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Heat wave another call to action – City council

AT YOUR SERVICE: Pools need to be part of Township-wide recreation planning

AT YOUR SERVICE: No current need for year-round schooling in Langley, trustees agree

AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs suggest staying the course on battling of B.C. wildfire

AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs call for borders to be safely re-opened

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City council wants to keep higher density development north of Nicomekl

AT YOUR SERVICE: Passports key to keeping B.C. businesses open, people safe during pandemic

AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees ponder what kids are missing out on during pandemic

AT YOUR SERVICE: Education should trump rules for vaccination of health-care workers, suggest MLAs

AT YOUR SERVICE: How to handle rising housing prices

AT YOUR SERVICE: City council divided on call for indoor pool

AT YOUR SERVICE: Council ponders vaccine requirements for workers

AT YOUR SERVICE: Skyrocketing enrolment prompts intensified lobby by trustees

AT YOUR SERVICE: Political stripes aside, MLAs agree heat dome was tragic and action required

AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree much must be done to right wrongs for Indigenous

AT YOUR SERVICE: Is pay parking in the City a viable consideration?

AT YOUR SERVICE: Some suggest more needed to protect floodplains from development

AT YOUR SERVICE: Monitoring student transport not good use of school district resources – trustees

AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal caucus floats all-party committee in reaction to emergencies

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley MPs address issue of rising food costs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook

AT YOUR SERVICE: Future of Aldergrove core up for debate

AT YOUR SERVICE: Trees and more greenspace at root of climate change solutions

AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook

AT YOUR SERVICE: Councillors differ on future of SkyTrain beyond Langley City

AT YOUR SERVICE: Bigger schools not necessarily solution to rising land costs

AT YOUR SERVICE: High gas prices of concern for MLAs of both stripes

AT YOUR SERVICE: Military readiness for climate disasters must be ensured – says one MP; other says army only one piece of bigger puzzle

AT YOUR SERVICE: Empty homes can be safety concern, but not huge concern in City

AT YOUR SERVICE: Most of council content with current pothole repairs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Survey gives school district tools for staff recruitment, retention

AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal MLAs call for overhaul to B.C.’s student funding model

AT YOUR SERVICE: Canada must continue its support of Ukraine, MPs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Best use of industrial land paramount to Langley City councillors

AT YOUR SERVICE: More ALR land needs to be used for farming: Most of council

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley is attractive to school staff, but given rapid growth trustees agree more must be done

AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MLAs agree more must be done to make life affordable in B.C.

AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal parties working on multiple fronts to end hate crimes

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City ponders cannabis retail policy

AT YOUR SERVICE – Most on council say parks and rec plans address future growth

AT YOUR SERVICE: School district moves forward on reconciliation efforts with Indigenous partners

AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs agree diking upgrades needed, divided on if enough is being done

AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MPs disagree on whether 2 billion trees can be planted by 2030

AT YOUR SERVICE: In light of SkyTrain coming, Langley City embarks on parking study

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley Township should consider schools for future cooling centres

AT YOUR SERVICE: Despite challenges, trustees affirm Langley is ready to accept more refugee students as need arises

AT YOUR SERVICE: Opposition MLAs critical of NDP’s affordable housing record

AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal clean energy efforts lauded by MP

AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs debate how feds chose to halt trucker convoy

AT YOUR SERVICE: New Langley City council look for solutions to rising costs

AT YOUR SERVICE – A few Langley Township council members speak to ongoing single-family home demands

MOST RECENT – AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees hope Santa can deliver more provincial funding this holiday season

.