Langley City, B.C. – The City of Langley Mayor and Council embarked on a proactive journey to Ottawa to engage with government members to discuss and advocate for solutions to pressing issues in Langley City and the Lower Mainland.
During their visit, Mayor Pachal and Councillors Paul Albrecht, Leith White and Mike Solyom conducted productive meetings with members of the Pacific Caucus, as well as MP Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and MP Paul Chiang, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Discussions centred on the urgent need to address the housing crisis, with a particular emphasis on ongoing housing developments and the crucial role of Federal support, especially in securing funding under the Housing Accelerator Fund.
"Langley City is proactively addressing the housing crisis. With over 1,000 homes currently under construction and an additional 2,600 in the development application process, we are steadfast in our commitment to expanding housing options to meet the growing needs of our community," Mayor Pachal emphasized. "Moreover, the City is dedicated to prioritizing transit-oriented development, particularly with the imminent arrival of two new SkyTrain stations in Langley City by 2028.”
While the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund application was not approved, Mayor Pachal and the Council eagerly anticipate reapplying under the second round of the $400 million HAF top-up.
Additionally, Mayor Pachal and Council emphasized the importance of robust language training programs to support Langley City’s growing immigrant population. “Langley City's population has seen a significant increase as new immigrants arrive in Canada. It is essential that we extend our support to these newcomers within our community. By doing so, we can further foster Langley City as a vibrant and inclusive community that embraces diversity,” Mayor Nathan Pachal stressed.
Meetings were also held with MP Tako van Popta, MP Scott Atichison, and MP Brad Redekopp to highlight the need for the Federal government to establish a sustainable infrastructure assets renewal program to replace aging infrastructure. “While we have made substantial investments in replacing outdated infrastructure, this endeavour exceeds the financial capacity of local governments. Therefore, we require a sustainable infrastructure assets management fund to bolster investment in infrastructure renewal to accommodate our community's rapid growth,” Mayor Pachal stated.
Shadow Minister of Immigration, Citizenship, and Refugees, Tom Kmiec also agreed to meet with Mayor Pachal and Council to engage in a robust discussion on addressing skilled worker shortages and the need to review foreign student policies.
Mayor Pachal and Council are optimistic about the outcomes of their trip to Ottawa, as they continue to work towards solutions for the community.
Media Inquiries:
Mayor Nathan Pachal
City of Langley
604.514.2801
npachal@langleycity.ca