Langley Free Press

Gone Fishing ! Back Next Week!

2008-08-25T19:30:00.014-07:00

Everyone needs a break! Going deep water fishing again! Maybe even in political deepwaters! LOL! I will try to post some of Bob Richter's camera pictures though this week. By the way, September is the start of Langley election silliness. On your mark... Get ready....Go VOTE them out!

In the mean time feel free to comment away here on this string on any issue, ideas, thoughts or even questions you may have.

Langley MP Mark Warawa's Cons. Party SPAM Flyers Questions Left Unanswered

2008-08-11T16:03:00.019-07:00

Following this introduction, you will find the posting from Jared Butcher of "The Butcher Shoppe" blog. Jared Butcher of Victoria, British Columbia caught this Editor's attention when he was sent multiple propaganda flyers from Conservative MPs including multiple flyers from Langley's very own MP, Mark Warawa just like we all in Langley are having to endure. You all have recently gotten the same multiple flyers that have silly poll questions that provide no real info but really are in my view unadulterated propaganda spam and pure political pollution.

So we contacted Jared and asked him to inform us Langleyites about this issue with MP Warawa and what he is doing about it. He has been trying to contact Warawa to no avail yet. I guess if Mark can bother him with multiple flyers maybe he should out of courtesy respond to Jared too! Jared will keep us up to date as the issue develops or probably doesn't!

Oh, by the way on the above LFP editorial political pundit spoof picture of a Warawa banner erection team (lol), you may jump to conclusions as to what my intent was in nicknaming his propaganda team the "Blackwater.." boys. To help you out, view these next 3 links and tell me which one you think I referred to or which one I should be referring to! Blackwater Option One or Option Two or Option Three. Without further delay, on to Jared.

Conservative MP Roll Call by Jared Butcher of Victoria BC

A Special Submission For Langley Free Press

In the recent weeks I have written on my blog (www.butchershoppe.blogspot.com) about the flood of Conservative Party flyers ( here - here & here) I have been receiving in my mail box. However my anger and frustration with these mailers goes back for over a year now. I first received similar ones that would ask a question like “Do you believe in a strong stance on crime?” and the only answers were ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ I think that most Canadians have a slightly more nuanced position on how to deal with such a vast and complicated problem as “crime.”

Each of these flyers comes courtesy of a Conservative M.P. and encourages you to send it back to the M.P., courtesy of the Government Caucus Service in Ottawa. As a member of the internet generation I decided why send this by mail? I’ll just look up that M.P. and email my answers and concerns about having these materials delivered to my house.

I was raised to believe that our M.P.’s and M.L.A’s were there to serve their constituencies. An example that was set for me by my grandfather who was a B.C. M.L.A. for 13 years, even after he had retired he would still do some light work for people in his former riding. So I sent off my email to a few Tory M.P.’s assuming that although I wasn’t in their riding that if they felt strongly enough about people outside of their riding to send them flyers they could at least reply to my email right?

Wrong.

This brings us to the last two weeks, in which I have received a grand total of eight flyers from 7 Tory M.P.’s, including two on every Thursday, and two on every Friday. So rather than just emailing these folks I’ve decided to give their offices a call. Now sadly I haven’t been able to reach a real live person so far or get a reply back. I say so far because I haven’t called the two M.P.’s from today’s flyers yet. What can I say I’m an optimist.

Now this being the Langley Free Press I suppose I should make some comments directly about your Conservative Member of Parliament, Mark Warawa. I received a flyer in his name on Thursday August 7, 2008. The topic of the flyer is “The Senate Must Change.” Inside the flyer it contrasts a “Conservative Senate” against a “Liberal Senate.” The key features of the Conservative senate are: Elected by you, Limited terms, Accountable to you.

Right, so let’s take these points one at a time.

“Elected By You,” should really read “Elected By You, unless we need an unelected cabinet minster from Quebec.” The Conservative commitment to an elected senate is laughable at best, after two years in power there has been zero movement on this issue. Whatever your feelings on the senate are the issue here is that the Harperites are saying one thing and doing another. Like appointing Michael Fortier, an unelected party operative, to the Senate so that he could sit in Cabinet. So if Mr. Warawa is so concerned about the Senate that he allowed his name to be put to this flyer where was he when his Prime Minister was appointing unelected party friends to the Senate? I looked and I can’t find any record of Mr. Warawa speaking to this issue at all.

“Limited Terms.” This would be perhaps the easiest and cheapest reform that the Government could introduce. I also see this being something that would get all party support or at least a majority. And yet two years in there has been zero movement on this issue either, ask your self, people of Langley, do you think Mark Warawa is talking to his caucus colleagues and the Prime Minister about making sure that this issue is moving forward? It would seem to be important enough to him that he sends someone on Vancouver Island a flyer about, what action is he taking on this file? And if he is not acting on it how can he be trusted to act on the things that matter most to you?

“Accountable To You” is kind of vague and I’m not sure what is really meant by this. Does it mean that if we do the above things then it will be accountable? If so shouldn’t the accountability start with the M.P.’s like Mark Warawa ensuring that these promises are held?

No matter where you stand on any of these issues or what your political stripe is I believe, personally, that you should ask yourself some serious questions.

1.>When was the last time you received a mailer or information from you M.P.?

2.> If Mark Warawa is so concerned about the Senate and yet takes no action on it, then how can he be trusted to follow through on anything else?

3.> Why is Warawa wasting time sending campaign flyers to a riding (Esquimalt-Juan De Fuca) where the Tory’s have never finished higher than a distant third?

4.> And finally why isn’t Warawa spending that time in his community?

Now I should point out that I have placed a call to Mr.Warawa’s office and I left a lengthy message on his voice mail, listing my concerns and inviting him or someone from his office to call me back and discuss all of this. So far I have not heard back from him or his office. Maybe Warawa has been fighting in caucus for a reformed Senate, maybe Warawa has good reasons for sending flyers to people on Vancouver Island, but that is a lot of maybes and a lot of questions that Mr.Warawa does not seem willing to answer.

Jared S. Butcher is a political science student at Camosun College and The University of Victoria .

LFP Editor NOTE: Thank you Jared. And by the way, am I the only one that finds it tragically amusing that the Conservatives' environmental secretary, Mark Warawa, to Environment (oxymoron) Minister John Baird is essentially mass mailing with our Canadian clear cut trees a deluge of paper product propaganda flyers multiple times to Langley taxpayers as well as to who knows how many other Canadian ridings including Jared's Victoria riding? Is this proper & responsible governance that you condone of your Langley MP?...

VALTAC - Country Picnic in the Park - We Need Light Rail Now!

2008-08-08T14:35:00.012-07:00

Photos and comments courtesy of Bob Richter.

LFP's own Photog, Bob Richter, was at today's event and posted above his picture album report of Valley Transportation Advisory Committee or VALTAC's 2nd annual Picnic in The Park to help raise awareness about the need for better transit options in Langley and other parts of the Fraser Valley.

The highlight was the unveiling of VALTAC's outstanding latest mural decorated mobile 53 foot long trailer with it's banner headline, “Bring Community Rail back to the Fraser Valley Now!” as reported in today's Langley Times (why the Times choose to publish this story on page 6 of their paper is unbelievable to this Editor but not surprising).

By the way VALTAC, this Editor likes your new web page format. For way more directions and further information scroll all the way down below to the LFP calender and select Sat. Aug. 8th, VALTAC picnic calender posting. Don't forget to tell Bob when there, that you are there because you read about it on LFP and not buried on page 6 of the Langley Times! LOL !!!...

LAPS - High Time For A Reality Check?

2008-08-06T17:02:00.020-07:00

Langley Times letter to the Editor of August 6th, 2008: ' The mandate of LAPS is “to promote the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of companion animals in Langley." ... This was clearly not the case when I called. ....On July 25 I called Langley Animal Protection Society to report a mother cat and kittens at the side of the road at 216 Street and 88 Avenue. I asked LAPS to come and rescue them and was told that they do not pick up cats, only dogs. .....

.....If I caught the kittens, I asked, could I bring them into the shelter? No, the shelter was at capacity for kittens. The receptionist told me to leave them there. Wouldn’t that lead to more kittens in the future, I asked. I told her that I would catch the kittens and bring them in. She said they would turn me away. ' - excerpts of letter by Dana Bis of Walnut Grove

The Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) which lobbied and took over the former SPCA contract for it's community animal protection for Langley was an excellent choice by the Township Council at that time a mere 4 or 5 years ago. So what happened to the LAPS since? This Editor's alarm bells have silently been chiming for quite a while because of all of the following below listed concerns about LAPS in the last couple of years. Today's letter from Dana Bis above has finally broken this Editor's back and begs many questions that need answers. Let's look at the concerns this Editor has:

Two years ago the LAPS's Board lobbied for and got the Township of Langley to fork up $1.5 million for a replacement building after Township Taxpayers paid for an existing kennel property and facilities for in excess of $600,000.00 as well as installing sewer upgrades. One of the arguments were that better digs were required to attract and retain volunteers.

Between July 2007 & January 2008 the Laps Board asked for just under $1,000,000.00 more for their new building due to cost overruns and expenses in addition to the initial $1.5 million for a new grand total of now about $2,500,000.00 and the Township Council approved and funded this increase. This is about a 75% cost overrun! Actually this is old hat and nothing new for the existing Township council because they seem to approve all manners of cost overruns in all facets of township spending! It's the business norm of the Mayor Alberts council club of "Good Ole boy's"

At the January 2008 Council meeting where the LAPS Board sought the extra money they also revealed to council that LAPS now employed and had a payroll of 11 people IN ADDITION to all the volunteers that were initially to be the real backbone workhorses of LAPS when first presented to council only a short 4 or 5 years previously. Just a few years ago LAPS only had two employees I believe. In fact on their website there are three positions advertised for LAPS employees right at this moment. This really shocked this Editor to the core in January. I remember clearly the arguments about replacing the professional paid employees of the SPCA contractor with LAPS because their volunteers would care much better for Langley's animal protection than the paid and then very controversially expensive and gold plated SPCA operation that the council was contracting to before changing to LAPS at that time.

This Editor also understands that the price of dog licenses have now doubled as well since LAPS took over. These funds go to help fund LAPS operations.

This Editor also understands that the cost of adopting a pet at LAPs is now about $250.00. Again it used to be $125.00in the previous years. These funds also go to help fund LAPS operations.

Patti Dale, was the visionary out in front volunteer that spearheaded the drive to replace the SPCA originally. She along with the purely volunteer driven group of local women were clearly very energetic & a dedicated group of volunteers who demonstrated their strong animal advocacy focus & vision again only 4 or 5 years ago was . I still remember their passionate appeal to have the Township council replace the then very controversial SPCA organization. Sadly Patti passed away at far too young an age a couple of years ago.

The final concern that this Editor has is that I no longer see ANY of this original group of volunteers in evidence when reporting to Township Council. In fact at the January 2008 appeal for more funding none of the original women were anywhere to be seen or heard. Where have they all gone? And why?

I'm sure there will be lots of flak for this Editor's observations but given my festering concerns previous and especially now the letter from Dana Bis of Walnut Grove, questions must now finally be asked and answers must be given. Have we simply replaced the previous professional and gold plated Langley animal protection contractor with another one that is now starting to morph into an SPCA bureaucratic professional and gold plated clone? I certainly hope not. So don't shoot the messenger. I'm just asking the questions that the local newspaper Editor's should be raising too, but won't. Should we be concerned given all the above? And if not why not? Just very concerned and asking the questions. The final question is; when is LAPS's contract with the Township up for renewal and why should it not be out for public tender or for request for proposals?

To be fair this Editor is very aware of a lot of great things that LAPS now does like dog walking and especially the jailed prisoner inmate programs where they loan dogs to prisons for training and essentially provide inmate and even pet companionship. I'm sure they do many other innovative and wonderful things as well. Kudos. But as the messenger here, I sure hope that they never lose track of the core services and respective costs, checks and balances that the taxpayers and all Langley animal owners and lovers expect. Just another little reality check spurred on by this Editor. Where all others will certainly fear to tread, no doubt! In the meantime, keep up the fine work & programs LAPs and be ever wary and vigilant of the temptations of excess similar to your predecessors! And most especially those of your sponsors, the Township of Langley "Good Ole boy's Club" Council! LOL.

The Councillor Charlie ('Flip-Flop') "Fox Freeway" FLOPS! 8 to 1 Vote NO To FOX

2008-07-23T20:46:00.025-07:00

The front page Langley Times photo/story shows Councillor Charlie Fox standing on 16Th ave. with his hand holding on to a 60 kmh speed limit sign. Looks to me like he can hardly wait to change it up upwards and away starting with 70 km an hour as he suggests!

And of course, the Times Editor really likes Councillor Charlie Fox's idea of adding lots of expensive 4 way stop lights along 16Th Avenue, at every intersection and even raising the speed limit and synchronizing the lights so that we can all relive the Indianapolis 500 experience as we barrel unopposed through south Langley without ever stopping. I wonder what effect his motion will have on 16th Ave property values when he tables his motion next week (wow, am I glad I never bought a home on 16Th or anywhere near it! ) ?

Someone suggested a silly joke and told me today that if it was Cllr. Richter's idea the Times Editor would perhaps be trashing the idea instead! LOL. In any event, I digress. I didn't know that Charlie and the Times' Editor had degrees or extensive qualifications in traffic engineering, did you?

So are these two now the vanguard advocates that are basically in my mind's eye creating the start of a freeway through south Langley on 16th Avenue essentially cutting South Langley into two? Hm.. I wonder which side will become the bad side of the tracks so to speak? I'm betting the north side of 16th (mental note, don't buy property there either!) . Who knows, 70 kph today maybe a 4 lane at 100 kph tomorrow with cloverleaf interchanges too? Why not just put cute little streetcars down 16th too and get rookie councillor Jordan Bateman in on this extravagent spending spree just before an election to help get him some South Langley resident's votes too?

I wonder if the 16Th Ave residents and all the south Langley residents will embrace this? I think if this goes ahead, 16Th Ave. should be renamed the "Fox Freeway" in honour of this sudden out of left field pre-election strategic idea (which is the exact opposite of his previous preelection motion to put roundabouts in! Let's hear it for "Flip-Flop Fox"!) The Freeway name is catchy isn't it and very apopos too. Cllr Fox should love this tribute.

One thing for sure, the less densely populated ZERO Avenue residents who lobbied for and now have beautiful rocket launching capable speed bumps will now be relieved to hear about the "Fox Freeway" (another mental note - Reminder safe and now wise to buy property on 0 Ave.) . Any more talk about a professional well planned and thought out east - west permanent South Fraser connector road along the border "0" Avenue will now be history, won't it? What a relief for them.

Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Surrey residents will be thrilled with the "Fox Freeway" because they won't even have to stop at all while breezing through Langley if they go fast enough and the lights are synchronized enough of course as Charlie wants. Let's see if they can syncronize through all lights without stopping at 70 kph. Imagine how fast they can get through Langley at double the speed or more! The 16Th ave residents may want to even consider 10 foot high concrete noise barriers along thunder alley then. The truckers will love the idea (and you thought you saw lots of trucks on 16th now?) . Translink and the Province will love it too because we will be funding at least 50% or more of the "Fox Freeway" after all won't we? BTW that means us the taxpayers.

I especially liked it when the Times apparently asked Councillor Fox how much his "Fox Freeway" would cost the taxpayers, he replied that he "isn't sure how much it would cost." ! Hm.. too bad he's a armchair traffic planner as opposed to an armchair financial planner. So what else is new though? This council has never given much thought to spending or our tax burden dollars because they simply always come back to the tax trough as their easy solution to their every whim, wish and monument to their egos. Nuff said I tire of these council financial business planner jeniuses! Now we have to live with traffic jeniuses too! So this November remember a vote for 'Flip Flop' Charlie is a vote for "Fox Freeway" on 16th Avenue!...

South Fraser OnTrax - A Langley Transportation Advocate Group Overview by Bob Richter

2008-07-22T12:21:00.014-07:00

Photographs, comments and article courtesy of Bob Richter

As the LFP Photographer I attended the July 10th South Fraser OnTrax meeting at the invitation of it's chair & co-founder Joe Zaccaria. South Fraser OnTrax was only created some few months ago I believe by Joe & Nathan Pachal who were formerly with VALTAC until they broke away and formed their own transportation advocacy group. This meeting had 13 people in attendance and Joe told me that they had a mailing list of approximately 50 plus people. The organization’s issues that Joe mentioned were that they required more financial contributions and that he, Joe, was still personally underwriting most of the group’s expenses so far. Their second issue is that they need more help/volunteers with many aspects of the organization as he and Nathan were shouldering must if not all of the responsibilities so far.

What impressed me is that Joe mentioned that it was their intent to register as a non-profit society in the future and that they have always had an open book policy with their financials available to public scrutiny. Their website also has full audio recordings of their meetings and extensive related documentation. Very impressive documentation.

In the very short while that South Fraser OnTrax has existed they have had two presentations from Township Council members. The one I attended obviously had Mayor Kurt Alberts presenting his Langley Township transportation achievements as well as his primer on Translink and transportation in Langley from his point of view.

Previously Councillor Jordan Bateman formally also presented to one of their meetings on Streetcars. He presented his personal vision of installing them in Langley. Councillor Bateman was even a South Fraser OnTrax financial sponsor and is listed as an event sponsor on their website for his own presentation to South Fraser OnTrax by contributing monies to the group for the day of his presentation to the group.

I am also planning to make a visit to VALTAC ASAP, the other Langley transportation advocacy group, from which Joe & Nathan broke off from. I will hopefully capture some of their meeting pictures and be able to do a small writ up about them to. VALTAC has also advocated for better transportation for quite a few years than the most recent Joe & Nathan’s South Fraser OnTrax organization.

The only observation that I will make is that I am still mostly unclear why Joe & Nathan decided to break away from VALTAC. I also personally think that both groups, both based out of Langley, should perhaps reconsider and amalgamate again or at least have a rep go to each other’s meetings and work more closely together than they do now. There is certainly more strength in a well coordinated front as opposed to two separate organizations. There was a lady there from another Abbotsford or Chilliwack group called RAIL FOR THE VALLEY who said that she was there as an observer and that she also also attended VALTAC meetings as well. At least there are now many groups south of the Fraser that are advocating better transit for us and it’s nice to know that they mostly attend each other’s meetings and share ideas and actions. Congratulations to all of them and their efforts.

(LFP Editor's correction/clarification submitted by Joe Zaccaria in the Haloscan comments: " Just one clarification...Councillor Bateman and Ward presented some ideas on streetcars at our June meeting. Bateman contributed $100 to support the workshop that we held at Kwantlen University in late June. Although he attended this workshop as a participant only, he did not make any presentation as had been inaccurately reported in error by the Langley Advance. - JZ")...

OPEN COMMENTS - Dump your opinions here! - Be Bold & Daring unlike the Establishment Rags! - Any Topic - Use YOUR SOAP BOX

2008-07-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Let's experiment with an open line free-for-all! All you LFP Editor & Richter haters go for it too! Who knows maybe even a well known newspaper man who clearly is not fond of both above may even write! I will regularly just below post exceptional and witty excerpts as well from YOUR comments.

LFP ED - July 17 - 10:36 pm : "There is a lot here that stinks so far that even any half witted amateur can't miss and question and this time it can't simply be blamed on a rookie reporter can it?"

Critic - July 16 - 8:21 pm : "..wonder if the Langley Times Editor will be critical of you because you once again reported what you saw in the big boy's regional media chain (re: MLA Coleman Auditor report)?"

Les Leyne of the Time Colonist - July 16 - 8:02 pm : "The report (Auditor's)he released yesterday will cement Coleman's place as the most hapless forests minister in modern history."

Walnut Grovian - July 16 - 6:36 pm : " Why would MLA Rich Coleman ever endorse Mayor Alberts with a record of compounding escalating tax increases over the 9 past years?"

Anon - July 16 - 5:55 pm : " ...BC Auditor essentially trashed the Vancouver Island Forestry land sale under previous Minister Rich Coleman..."

Methinks - July 16 - 4:26 pm : " It is by now very obvious that both of the Langley blogs are stirring up a lot of controversy where little existed before."

Informed - July 16 - 1:58 pm : "There is little to no investigative journalism going on here, they are two safe newspapers."

Eagerbeaver - July 16 - 12:30pm : "..love your perspective on 'the boy that would be king'. Could come back to bite him in the foot."

Anon - July 16 - 12:29 pm : "Is he (Cllr Bateman) BITING THE HAND THAT FED HIM FOR MANY YEARS, THE LANGLEY ADVANCE?"

...

Here’s hoping Doyle sinks his teeth into ICBC scandal (The Province, 20 Jul 2008, Page A4)

2008-07-20T12:22:00.001-07:00

An Example of How Editorials Not Biased by Advertising Dollars Are Written - LFP EDITOR

Here’s hoping Doyle sinks his teeth into ICBC scandal
Michael Smyth
The Province
20 Jul 2008

The B.C. Liberals have demonized new Auditor-General John Doyle as the meanest piece of work to come out of Australia since the dingo that took that poor woman’s baby. But is the accounting world’s Thunder From Down Under really the unprofessional,...read more...

Fantasctic Four and a Half Advertising Budget Has NO Effect On Local Media Opinions

2008-07-18T10:24:00.016-07:00

Today's Langley Times Editorial titled "Few answers in report" once again not surprisingly at all seems to be tending to support former and in my opinion failed forestry minister Rich Coleman one of the LANGLEY FANTASCTIC FOUR and A HALF, the chummy political tag team of Alberts, Coleman, Polak & Warawa and their boy robin Council member Jordan Bateman.

Then I read the Victoria news paper and their Editorial titled "Editorial: Government betrayed the public interest". Most critics all undisputedely agree to the fact that the BC Auditor says that the issue here is that the residential development decision was ultimately approved by former forestry Minister Rich Coleman with apparently very little information of only short briefing notes and without ANY public consultation. Both of which the Times Editor neglects to mention at all!

But then it hit me. How silly of me! In Langley Township development decisions made with little or adequate solid information or thought and pathetic public input is normal isn't it? Hence I can not accuse the Times Editor of once again blindly supporting one of his Fantasctic 4 and a half as he always seems to lean to in my opinion, can I? He is simply endorsing the standard modus operandi that is used by the Langley Township Mayor Alberts "Good Ole boy's Club" slate isn't he?

P.S. Note #1: This LFP Editor especially likes this Times Editorial line excerpt; "...it’s hard to see how an auditor-general, whose expertise is mainly in accounting and financial matters, can properly rule on whether a cabinet minister has allowed enough consultation on a particular issue." The Times Editor is obviously correct that the BC Auditor should stick to his area of expertise and be limited to auditing pure $ only, despite his clear mandate to be our, the taxpayers, watchdog over Government mismanagement! Betcha that the much quoted windfall property developement of $140,000,000.00 that former forestry Minister Rich Coleman approved have no financial accounting errors at all! Damm the torpedos, damm public justification and damm public input! BTW maybe the Times Editor should also stick to his knitting and area of expertise too. Maybe he really knits great sweaters!

P.S. Note #2: So I can now safely say that the combined advertising dollar of the Fab 4 and a half have no input in the local media opinions can't I?...

Critics want Coleman removed from cabinet, deal suspended (Times Colonist, 17 Jul 2008, Page A1)

2008-07-17T10:54:00.002-07:00

Shouldn't Rich Coleman Resign As Minister,
At Least Temporarily? - LFP

LFP Must Read Recommended links:

Victoria Times Colonist - Forest deal lacked 'regard for public interest'
Victoria Times Colonist - Les Leyne column Victoria Times Colonist: A botched job
Editorial Victoria Times Colonist - Government betrayed the public interest
Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun - Auditor- general's land-use report sparks a brawl with the Liberals
Michael Smyth, The Province - Shame on Bell, buddies for their dirty tactics
Vancouver Sun - Auditor-general rips government over land deal
Vancouver Sun - Conflict watchdog looks at ex-forests minister

Critics want Coleman removed from cabinet, deal suspended
JUDITH LAVOIE
Times Colonist
17 Jul 2008

Critics called for Rich Coleman to be removed from cabinet after a damning report by B.C.’s auditor general yesterday slammed the former forests minister for a decision to remove thousands of hectares of land on Vancouver Island from tree farm...read more...

Tech Tags: Times Colonist newspaper Front Page

How To Kill 2 Mosquitoes With One Swat - Letter To The Editor by Wally Martin

2008-07-15T09:04:00.006-07:00

July 14 2008
Mayor and Council
Township of Langley

Re: How to kill 2 mosquitoes with one swat

Last Tuesday July 8 my wife Sharon and I spent the day in Fort Langley producing a Bridal Fair at the Fort Langley Community Hall. It was a very successful event with the participation of 100 business people and over 1,000 young ladies that attended. The day was perfect. Our attendance was up 40% from last year. The only negative thing we had was the mosquitoes. For many of the attendees it was their first visit to Fort Langley. We very rarely see any mosquitoes in Murrayville so it was a bit of a surprise for us.

I got thinking about the letter (copy attached)I wrote to council in the early spring regarding ground water in Langley. Fort Langley has too much ground water too close to the surface while the rest of Langley doesn’t have enough. The area surrounding Fort Langley is an underground lake. Taking this water would no doubt lower the water table slightly and help alleviate the mosquito problem. The Fort Langley basin is the perfect place to drill more wells.

Wally Martin
21628 48 Ave
Langley BC V3A 3M8

(Below letter written in early spring)

Langley’s Non existent Water Problem

There really is no crisis in water supply for Langley. There is a crisis in confidence in the leadership of Langley. The past few months have caused unnecessary anxiety as the population has been lead to believe there is a problem with the water supply.

There are a number of good alternatives to augment the water supply in Langley that have been advanced. These include the north shore lakes, Cultus Lake & Harrison Lake. Also more wells can be drilled in Langley. 2 other options have been overlooked. One is to build a desalination plant. The south west corner of Langley is 4 miles from tidewater. Thousands of cities around the world treat seawater to use it for drinking water. The process is simple and the distance to draw the water is close. Many cities draw seawater from much longer distances. Another alternative and probably the best is to draw water from the Fraser River. The Fraser River flows at a rate of 5,000 cubic meters per second. This is a flow rate that in one day can supply all of Langley’s water needs for 25 years. The good thing about the Fraser is the quality of the water. Fish live in the Fraser River. Living fish are always an indicator of good water quality. Needless to say the Fraser has better water than many of Langley’s wells. The fact is that Langley is already drawing water from the Fraser River. Some might be skeptical about this notion but I will explain.

Presently Langley Township pumps water from 17 wells to supply water to 85% of the Langley Township population. 38% of the Langley Township well water comes from the Salmon River well on 88 Ave at the west side of Fort Langley village. This is the best and largest producing well in the Township and far exceeds any of the other wells. It was drilled in the early 70’s and the press reports of the day were that it was a “gusher”. It also has excellent quality characteristics. The Salmon River well is a mere 60 feet deep. This well is actually drawing water from the Fraser River. A quick glance at the geology of north Langley shows that the water bearing material that supplies the Salmon River well is a one mile wide layer of sand that fills a crescent shaped basin that completely surrounds the village of Fort Langley. This crescent shaped basin is directly connected to the Fraser River like a giant pipeline. The Fraser River is also in a sand filled basin. The water travels thru the sand where it is constantly filtered. It is pumped at the well and we drink it. It is excellent water.

Many of the Townships other 17 producing wells were actually drilled in bad locations. They were drilled too close to areas where many private wells were already in existence. This has caused problems for the private wells. This is not a problem in the area surrounding the Salmon River well because it is a flood plain and no one lives on the flood plain. Langley can simply drill a few more wells in the Fort Langley basin and phase out the other wells. Additionally the east and west water systems need to be connected. It is actually quite simple. The interconnect would need to run from 232 St to 248 St. a total distance of 4 miles and Aldergrove would then enjoy the same water quality that is in the west system.

There is a cost to all of this. Recently the Township of Langley was proposing to install meters on all private wells in Langley. At a cost of $10,000 per well (a conservative estimate) that would have been $50 million dollars. The interesting thing about this bizarre metering idea was that after spending the $50 million it would not have produced one drop of water for Township of Langley residents. The above ideas I am advancing will not cost anywhere close to $50 million and they will increase the water supply.

Another good idea would be to take water directly from the Fraser River and treat it. This would be the same process that is being used to treat the lake water from the north shore. The intake pipes could be installed in such a way as to take advantage of the sand filtration under the river. Not a difficult concept.

Langley does not have a water shortage but rather has numerous viable options to choose from.

Thank you
Wally Martin
21628 48 Ave
Langley BC V3A 3M8
sales@princessbb.com
604 533 5569

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Vecchiato's Voice - What To Do With Your $100 Carbon Tax Rebate?

2008-07-14T11:52:00.006-07:00

I received the following information about the rebate checks in a forwarded email which is obviously tongue in cheek. It's good food for thought and can really show how patriotic we as Canadians are.
So, how should you spend your carbon tax rebate?
If you spend that money at WalMart, the money will go to the U.S.

If you spend it on gas, it will go to the Middle East or Alberta.

If you purchase a computer, it will go to Taiwan or Mainland China.

If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to California, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.

If you purchase a good car, it will go to Japan or Korea or Europe.
If you purchase useless junk, it will go to China and none of it will help the B.C. economy.

The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it on prostitutes and marijuana, since these are the only products still produced here in B.C.

Thank you for your help and support,

Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia
Cathleen
Cathleen Vecchiato has been an outspoken environmentalist for many years. She is the recognized champion of the environment and a community activist in Langley and other adjoining communities. View her full bio and read all her LFP postings at this link. Editor-LFP...

Hells Angels: Langley Mayor Alberts Demands Apology From The Province & Langley Advance - Alberts Says:"I did not and never would make such a comment"

2008-07-11T16:40:00.011-07:00

<--- Click on Image of letter to view full size.

The very same letter was also addressed to the Vancouver Province and Langley Advance newspapers.

More details at previous posting.

Langley expects Hells Angels to be ‘law-abiding’ during bash (The Province, 10 Jul 2008, Page A8)

2008-07-10T14:31:00.004-07:00

Since there is clearly a dispute between the Mayor and the Papers about what was actuaklly said, in the interest of fairness we are and will be editing all comments until the matter is resolved. LFP EDITOR.

Langley expects Hells Angels to be ‘law-abiding’ during bash
BY STUART HUNTER STAFF REPORTER
The Province
10 Jul 2008

Hundreds of Hells Angels are poised to descend on suburban Langley to celebrate the motorcycle club’s 25th anniversary. The party hosted by the Angels’ White Rock chapter is scheduled for the weekend of July 25-26. It will celebrate the 25th...read more...

Tech Tags: The Province newspaper News

Township Taxes Result In Decline Of Tourism & Tapping The Gay Tourism Market? - Letter by Wally Martin

2008-07-09T08:11:00.015-07:00

(editor's note: This letter also published in today's Langley Times.)

(After reading below letter & posting comments, for the real facts and less fiction see these 3 & related previous LFP postings, ONE - TWO - THREE)

Letter to the Editor from Wally Martin,

The notion that high fuel prices will benefit the local tourism economy is a joke.
Langley residents live 10 minutes from the border and motor fuel in BC is 50% more expensive than in the US.

Every weekend there are huge border lineups as Canadians head south to escape our high taxes.
US visitors are not headed to Canada due to our high taxes.

Tourism from the US to BC is down 70%.

The premier of the province has long been an advocate of holidaying in the US and BC residents are following his lead.

The current marketing blitz that "BC is the best place on earth" is only true if you enjoy being over taxed.

BC has the highest hotel taxes on the continent and if you like that than you do enjoy punishment.

2 years ago councilor Bateman lead the charge to increase local hotel taxes by 25%. He insisted we needed 'a socialist style' of government marketing plan. Free enterprise wasn't smart enough to do their own marketing and the government needed to do it for them. He said at the time we would all thank him for that. This increase in tax has resulted in the decline in tourism in Langley as residents flee to lower tax destinations. I suppose we can thank councilor Bateman for higher taxes.

It was refreshing to know that at least some council members voted against the extra tax (Richter and Ferguson voted against the tax).

Tourism Langley recently launched a new logo. This logo is in rainbow colors. The rainbow has long been the symbol of the gay and lesbian movement. Does Langley really think it can compete with places like Toronto and San Francisco that have large gay pride events and numerous gay bars. It seems to me that Langley would be better off with a pumpkin logo or something to promote the farm. Since Mayor Fassbender and Councilor Bateman are directors of Tourism Langley I ask 'In what direction are they trying to take us?'.

The 10% hotel tax has been in affect for a year now and we are still waiting to see some tourists brought here by Tourism Langley. Where are these tourists? Are there any tourists? Are they being sent to stay with special friends and insiders? Will the experiment in socialism work?...

Susan Semonick On Schools - How Sad - Summer Election Thoughts - June 29, 2008

2008-07-05T12:08:00.006-07:00

AHHH !!! Election Madness.

I cannot believe that Alison McVeigh would not stand and run in the City to remain accountable to her electorate for her decisions. Instead, she has chosen to run where she is not known. Her excuse that she got flack the last time for running in the City is just that, an excuse. If she believed it to be right to do the last time, then none of the facts have changed, so why the switch?

She put a motion forth at the last board meeting to change school boundaries in Walnut Grove that really didn’t need to be changed. All the students wishing to go to West Langley Elementary were already attending the school because of the available space due to low enrolment there. It will not affect the enrolment at either school. Was this an action taken to get votes, in the hope that people in the north area would vote for her because she did what a few asked of her at a consultation meeting? Will she be able to make the hard decisions for the north area if there are any? Would she run back to the City in three years if the Township voters are not happy with her, hoping they have forgotten how she voted on the HD Stafford Secondary issue, especially since it does require substantially fewer votes to get elected?

There were a large number of voters asking her to vote differently than she did during this past year, at the very least to alter the process to a more respectful one, and it appears to some that she ignored their request. According to her announcement, she has no intentions of changing her ways. She is proud of what she has done Trustee Hogeterp is proud of what has been done this year also and will stand steadfast to ensure nothing changes. Were their decisions the best for the students? Time will tell, but till then public officials are to represent the wishes of the electorate.

The question to ask is - have the four involved in the major changes to the district done what the majority of the community wished? Or, have they voted with limited direction and personal opinion? If you are of the latter opinion, then don’t vote for them. It is time for change and there are an increasing number of people showing interest in replacing the current board. Whether they follow through is yet to be seen.

If McVeigh had stood her ground and faced the music, many more would respect her. I wonder if her advisors should take a hard second look at whether running from the music is a good move or not.

This type of thing only makes my suggestion of amalgamation of the electoral ballot even more important for the people to attain voter parity. The public officials who do not wish to remain accountable for their decisions would not have an easy out. You would have public officials accountable for their decisions on the district as a whole, (as it should be) instead of being able to slither into an alternate political office seat.

Voters - sign up at http://members.shaw.ca.amalgamateschoolboard/. This is where you can officially sign up to support this initiative to attain accountability and voter parity for the election of Board of Education trustee seats in School District #35. Let’s be the leaders in ending this lack of voter parity in government.

Respectfully
Susan Semonick

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Township July 2nd Tax Protest Pictures

2008-07-02T15:18:00.010-07:00

Photos Courtesy of Bob Richter

Tax, Tax, and More Tax - Vecchiato's Voice

2008-06-30T13:10:00.013-07:00

Tax, Tax, and More Tax
by Cathleen Chance Vecchiato
Feeling that newly assigned tax stress, the type that brings bruxism to your anxious dreams? Rest assured. You are not alone. The following was forwarded to me by another Township resident who, like others, sees our tax increases as a loonie grab. If you can make the time, join the Property Tax Protest, Wednesday, July 2nd, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Langley Township Hall, 20338 65 Avenue. In fact, save yourself the postage and submit your property tax form.

Property owners in Langley Township have been hit this year with the second highest tax increase in the Lower Mainland.

For the last several years, our mayor and council members have increased spending at three times the rate of inflation, even taking into account the population growth. This has created an unfair burden on homeowners in the Township, who have seen no corresponding increase in services.

Many Township residents have no access to municipal water, sewer, garbage pickup or public transit yet they are being taxed as if they lived in West Vancouver. We are concerned that our municipal government is on a spending spree, buying golf courses and restaurants at our expense.

This friendly demonstration is being held to remind our elected officials that their job is to manage our hard-earned money wisely and responsibly. You're invited to join us on the picket line, to stop by to sign a petition or to just show up to lend your support.

* * *

So where are the increases going, and what amenities or quality of life issues are we receiving? I’d like to do a random comparison, so chose 2000 for the fiscal property tax year. In 2000, a ¼-acre lot in Brookswood (land only) was assessed at $142,000. For 2008, the same was assessed for $350,000. What is relevant, however, is the increases in “services” for individuals applying for the basic home owner grant.

I calculated that my monthly payments show an increase of 13%, which will finance the following projects above and beyond what we already pay for:
·--- $40,400,000 for storm water, water and sewer projects
·--- $19,300,000 for Engineering road works
·--- $8,100,000 for Recreation, Culture, and Parks
·--- $34,500,000 for Langley Events Centre

Having worked in industries aligned with civic structure, I am well aware of Engineering’s clout and the common practice of padding one’s budget, then having to use it all, lest you receive less the following year. From my understanding, our elected officials have no say over staff issues. Muriel Arnason told me before her death that all personnel issues go through Township Hall Administrator. I can see the “Help Wanted” ad right now:
Want benefits? Do you follow directions? Are you a team player but understand all teams have a leader? Apply at the Township of Langley. You’ll be glad you did! ...

Congratulations ! Whoever You Are - Township Tax Protesters - Wednesday July 2nd - 1 to 4 PM at Township Hall !

2008-06-28T18:33:00.009-07:00

What To Do This Weekend ! LOL

It's just glorious to see that despite the recent flurry of outrageous, incestuous, despicable and very questionable and suspect endorsements from all the political self serving cabal elite in Langley for the incumbent "Good Ole boy's Club" that at least there are some obviously ordinary people, taxpayers, that clearly are not happy with the status quo of the present Spend, Borrow and TAX increase Good Ole boy's on Mayor Alberts Langley Township Council slate
Today I was both pleasantly surprised and very heartened to find the above flyer on my car's windshield at a local mall (double-click here to see the whole flyer in large detail to print it & distribute it to?). Whoever you are congratulations for finally seeing the light. Who are you though? Our volunteer photographer, Bob, will be there on July 2nd to get pictures and story details of your protest. Good luck and we at LFP hope you have a great turnout and this Editor certainly hopes that you notified all the media about this as nothing to date other than this flyer has caught my attention about your protest.

Susan Semonick On Schools - Trustees Board of Education Meeting Report of June 17, 2008

2008-06-24T18:01:00.005-07:00

Another school board meeting under my belt. If you go to the school district web site and look at the strategic plan, the achievement plan and the district review report, you will have most of the info presented. If it’s not posted request it to be.

District Achievement Contract
One thing that struck me was the fact that it was stated that up to 200-grade eight students fail in numeracy each year because of the transition from elementary to high school. They are hoping that the middle school will reduce that number. Individual secondary school failure rates were not given.

Strategic Plan
Comments were made by one trustee about how well the district is doing and how all the documents are aligning to better improve student achievement. Interesting that unlike the District Achievement Plan which seems to be improving, the Strategic Plan document is going the other way. Why is the strategic plan a one-year plan? It used to be a document with a five-year scope – long term planning. Even the new District Achievement Plan is written to cover three years.

Why is the “development of a comprehensive plan of policy review administered by the Board” a ‘next step’ for 2008-2009 when it is already included in policy as one of the Secretary-Treasurer’s annual tasks? In fact, if I remember correctly, it was Trustee Hogeterp who was supposed to review policies during her past stint as trustee. Yes, it should have been done and still needs to be done - but isn’t it a given?

District Review Report
Dr. Keven Elder, superintendent of the Saanich School District presented his report.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/review/035-2008.pdf Again, a lot of back patting on the part of trustees.

Recommendations from the North Langley Consultations
There were boundary changes for West Langley and James Kennedy effective September 2009. What was stated was that it will only affect about 83 students so it is supposedly not a big deal. In my humble opinion any time anything affects students it should be considered a thing of importance. One trustee stated that she had not heard from anyone about this. There might be very good reason - they may have not known it was going to happen. Although, I do know that the PACs of the affected schools were given information beforehand that these recommendations would be going before the Board. Looking at what was done, I believe only the 40 or less now in the James Kennedy French Immersion courses will be unhappy if their child is not able to continue there. Since it is a district program, there is little chance of that though. West Langley is down in enrollment so this change may help or may not considering that the students that wish to go to WLE from this area already are.

Other Observations
There was a bit of barb throwing between Bech and Burton but other than that it was very uneventful.

Trustee Hogeterp is in full election mode, saying the same things numerous times. Considering the again jam-packed agenda with all the presentations slated, you would have thought that this trustee would have made her statements only once to allow an unhurried question period. When you become so repetitive people stop listening anyway.

Trustee McVeigh seems to be getting into election mode also with putting forward two motions dealing with energy management.

We heard from Trustee Ross more than usual also, to our disdain. He does get an ‘A’ for effort but an ‘I’ for content.

I am still working on the Indemnity review so it may be ready for September.

Hope the coming year proves to be a benefit for the children.

Respectfully Submitted
Susan Semonick...