Mary Polak, Liberal (incumbent)
Current occupation: Langley MLA & Minister of Environment
What are the three most pressing issues facing Langley residents and how will you address them?
Homelessness: In collaboration, we recently announced the intensive case management team for the community, adding further street outreach and direct support on the ground. The outreach team connects those most vulnerable to immediate and stable shelter and provides additional health assessment based on individual need. This team brings additional investment of over $1 million annually to support Langleys homeless.
Additionally, in partnership with Langley students and community service groups, we were proud to invest in a Langley Youth Resource centre, a hub for youth at risk, connecting those in need with immediate service and ongoing community programs based on individual need.
Within the last year, over $11 million dollars was invested in the Langleys for emergency shelter, housing for the homeless, as well as, social and rental assistance.
Education: Responding to the increase in community growth, we have worked hard with the Langley School Board and Ministry of Education to deliver the largest capital investment in Langley schools over the last 5 years.
This investment of over $151 million dollars includes an additional 3,300 student spaces, of which 200 seats will be at an expanded RC Garnett Elementary.
This record investment includes the purchasing of sites for 2 new elementary schools, as well as, the new secondary school on the Willoughby Slope.
We anticipate growth will continue in the Langley’s as one of BC’s most thriving communities. We are proud of the constructive relationships we have built with both the school board and local government, and we will continue to champion these needs as our community grows and more families choose to call Langley home.
Transportation/Transit: In the fast-growing Langley’s, it is important transportation investments keep pace. That is why our BC Liberal Government has made over $150 million worth of investments in the Langley’s over the past four years.
These investments include the recent announcement of $113 million to widen Highway 1 from 216th to 264th Street. It also includes $12.5 million to build the Mufford Crescent overpass at 64th avenue.
These investments alleviate congestion and allow you to get home to your families sooner.
While infrastructure investments are important as the Langley’s continue to grow, it is also important to ensure our communities have the public transportation investments to support this growth.
This is why, with the announcement of $2.2 billion in new transit funding for the Lower Mainland, we will fight to ensure the Langley’s receive their fair share for transit improvements.
A few more things …
Notable past achievements/titles/jobs
Minister of Healthy Living & Sport, Minister of Children & Family Development, Minister of Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation, Minister of Transportation
Where were you born/raised? Where do you live now?
I was born at VGH, grew up in Cloverdale and now live in Willoughby.
You have served in office before, what have you learned? Why are you running now?
I have learned that the things I am most proud of as an MLA are the times I have been able to help people quietly behind the scenes often with little or no media attention. Being able to put your head on the pillow at night is far more important than popularity.
Why do you make a good representative for your constituents in the legislature?
I love listening to people, hearing their experiences & working to find a way to resolve their issues. I have developed very good working relationships with both Mayors, the School District Trustees and local MPs. As a result, we’ve been successful in getting Provincial & Federal Government support for the needs of our communities.
Tell us a surprising or interesting fact or story about yourself.
My mother was a paraplegic. My parents were told they could never have children. Surprise! First came me and 15 months later, my brother. As far as our family can determine, I was the first baby in BC to be born to a paraplegic mother without a Caesarian.