There is a lot in the Feb. 13 Throne Speech in the B.C. Legislature that should encourage residents of Langley.
More child care spaces? As a community bursting with new families, that would be very welcome, especially if the government can successfully transition into its promised $10 a day plan.
Also welcome news for parents and teachers was a mention of building more permanent schools to reduce the glut of portables. For instance, there are far too many dotting the fields at Willoughby elementary.
On housing, there were promises for social housing and affordable rentals, seniors housing, and indigenous housing.
This will be particularly welcome for the vulnerable members of this community.
Langley’s boom in population and new homes has gone hand-in-hand with rising rents and increasing homelessness. We need quick action, because construction doesn’t exactly happen overnight.
There were also some words about pushing forward with plans for expanded transit, where Langley has long been in need of better service to meet our expanding population and increasing density.
While the Throne Speech is designed to encourage, it’s next week’s provincial budget that will give us more details. We will find out the timelines of funding, and the cold cash alloted to each priority.
Hopefully, the expected crackdown on tax evasion and money laundering through casinos and in the housing market will give Victoria a few more dollars to pour into these necessary initiatives such as housing, daycare, and transportation.
– M.C.