Living Purpose:
Imagine a British Columbia where our strong economy supports strong environmental practices. Where we have embraced our potential as a Resource Extraction Province and there is an honest agenda for climate change as we lead in clean energy while diversifying our economy with manufacturing and technology. There is a balanced approach to Addictions where Recovery is equally funded alongside Harm Reduction and people are supported in pursuing productive lives with dignity. Residents take pride in the Langley East district where home ownership is still possible and there is community, green space and culture for all.
Vision for the Environment and Community:
Protect our Water: While water is plentiful in B.C. it has immense value. We must reassess the value of mineral rights, specifically the commercial harvesting of our water which is bottled and leaves the ecosystem. We need to ensure every single First Nations community has access to clean water and provide education to communities in the Lower Mainland on the purity of our tap water to decrease demand for bottled water. Finally, we need an Emergency Response plan and policy for Water Aid as we know that in times of crisis the entire world will be looking to our sources.
Uphold an Honest Agenda for Climate Change: We need to addresses the tensions created by consumer demand for hydrocarbons, consumer demand for housing, economic viability and environmental sustainability including responsible development. We need citizen and scientific involvement in industrial development without being unduly influenced by community interest groups. It’s cannot be an “either or” agenda with ultimatums, it must be a collaborative “and if” approach.
Consider Electric Vehicles: Electric cars do not charge on magic; the energy to power the battery has to come from somewhere and if it’s not a clean source we know we have made our problem worse. We need to ensure environmentally sustainable practices disposing of batteries and harnessing electricity at the Site C Dam as dams create more surface area for evaporation.
End Homelessness: We need shelters and fully subsidized housing take the burden off Emergency Services and temporary units to ensure we avoid tent cities, but these must have social support in place to be effective. There is dignity in work and we need partnerships with nonprofits who help tenants to find purpose, and progress through various stages of housing. We also need to address Trauma, Mental Health, Addiction and the Status of Women.
Invest in Addiction Treatment and Recovery: The highest number of illicit drug toxicity across B.C. is in the Fraser Valley Health Authority with 72% of Overdose occurring Private Residences. We need to support organizations like the Langley Community Action Table, Creekstone, Gateway of Hope and Wagner Hills Farm to bridge Harm Reduction with Recovery; prioritizing treatment and using recovery capital to measure success. We need to provide naloxone to save lives as well as hope, recovery and continuity of care to help people reclaim their purpose. The opposite of addiction is community. We need mental health support and prevention; parks & recreation, family structures to support resiliency, community policing, counselling and education.
Nurture Community in Langley East: Langley East is a treasure trove of culture with Fort Langley the birthplace of BC in the center of it all. As we are able we need to embrace events at the Langley Events Center, Local Wineries, Langley Ribfest, Langley Good Times Cruise In, Fort Langley Cranberry Festival as well as Food Trucks and Patios serving tourists attracted to the area. As we look to build community we need to ensure density is complimented by green spaces, parks and places to walk.