September 19 Council Notes: Motions on Community Safety, Truth and Reconciliation, Electoral Districts

On Monday afternoon, Langley City Council considered three motions.

Last year, Langley City Council approved placing an “Every Child Matters” banner across the two Fraser Highway entrances to Downtown Langley for the week when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation occurs. The original motion only specified that this would happen in 2021. Council passed a motion on Monday to ensure that the City places the banners every year for the week when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation occurs. This year, the banners will go up on September 26th.

Every Child Matters banner across Fraser Highway. Select image to enlarge.

The next motion that Council considered was mine on creating a Citizens’ Assembly on Community Safety Reform in Langley City. As I posted about last week, one common theme I hear when I talk to people is that many do not feel safe in our community. Our current approaches to community safety aren’t making people feel safer, so this motion presents a new, holistic approach to community safety. To learn more about the full motion and background, please read a previous post on it. I was proud that this motion passed, supported by Councillors Albrecht, James, Martin, Storteboom, and Wallace.

Finally, the federal government has established independent electoral district commissions in each province to redraw ridings. BC is getting one new seat in parliament for the next federal election. In BC, the commission is proposing what I think is an uninformed decision to split Langley into four odd ridings, the strangest of which is the proposed Pitt Meadows Fort Langley riding.

Proposed federal electoral districts in Metro Vancouver. Select map to enlarge.

Langley City Council approved writing a letter to the ”British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission (BCEBC) to consider reconfiguring the electoral boundaries to have one boundary for the City of Langley and the Township of Langley and be represented by one Member of Parliament.”