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Fassbender weighs in on Polak's new appointment

Langley City mayor is happy Mary Polak is the transportation minister but doesn't want looming election to slow progress on projects

Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender, vice-chair of TransLink’s mayors council, is still very disappointed that Blair Lekstrom has decided to leave politics but is “absolutely delighted” that Langley MLA Mary Polak is taking over his position as transportation minister.

“She knows the issues, we’ve already talked and she said she is looking forward to working with the Mayors Council,” said Fassbender on Thursday.

In fact, with Aldergrove-Fort Langley MLA Rich Coleman being promoted to deputy premier, Langley has a “good one-two punch” in the provincial government’s stakes, said Fassbender.

However, he recognizes that while Polak may have a soft spot for Langley’s transportation issues, she has a whole province to look after.

Fassbender said he has also talked to Lekstrom who promised Fassbender that he is going to work hard with Polak to get her up to speed and make it a “smooth and quick” transition.

“We will continue to keep our pedal to the metal, excuse the pun,” said Fassbender about making sure the rapid bus across the new Port Mann goes ahead.

He stressed that no politician should lose focus on set goals just because an election is looming.

And if the BC Liberals are not to be the next party to run the province, he wants to talk to the party leaders who may win.

“If we are to change government, what are their priorities? I want to know that well before we have an election,” said Fassbender.

With the New Democrats leading in the polls for some time, leader Adrian Dix has said little to nothing about his party’s thoughts on transportation and funding for TransLink and transit.

“I’ve said this before: Transportation should be shaping communities not reacting to growth.”



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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