Consultation before major decisions and a rule against using public money to threaten residents

HOW THE CITY IS GOVERNED

Langley Strong on governance

Pillar 10, released October 10, 2026, promises to consult the public before major decisions with the feedback visibly reflected at the Council table, to guarantee residents who take time off work to speak get their turn, to set a rule that public money is never used to threaten residents or colleagues, to post every major decision and its cost in plain language, to hold closed meetings only when the law requires and report out when the reason expires, and to publish quarterly totals of legal spending.

The pillar also promises Council meetings at times working residents can attend, advisory committees and task forces rebuilt around specific tasks, and a rebuilt relationship between Council and staff. The organization's rule about public money and threats follows a term in which Mayor Woodward sued, among others, Councillor Kim Richter, now a Langley Strong councillor, for libel; the Advance Times reported that case was unresolved and that Woodward says he repaid the Township for its legal costs.

Pillar 3, Respect for Our Neighbours, promises to rebuild working relationships with the City of Langley and Fraser Health, a regional alliance with neighbouring municipalities to press the Province and TransLink on roads and transit, work with the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Matsqui First Nations, a yearly meeting with the Langley School Board and a standing working group of three councillors and three trustees.

6 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS

What they say they will do

• Consult the public before major decisions

  Pillar 10 promises consultation before major decisions, with the feedback visibly reflected at the Council table, and a guaranteed turn for residents who come to speak.

  Langley Strong

• Public money is never used to threaten residents or colleagues

  Pillar 10 sets a rule that public money is never used to threaten the residents the Township serves or the colleagues councillors serve with. It names no bylaw.

  Langley Strong

• Post every major decision with its cost; closed meetings only when the law requires

  Pillar 10 promises to post every major decision and its cost in plain language, to hold closed meetings only when the law requires and report out afterwards, and to publish quarterly totals of legal spending.

  Langley Strong

• Council meetings at times working residents can attend

  Pillar 10 promises to schedule Council meetings at times working residents can attend and to keep Council open to feedback between meetings.

  Langley Strong

• Rebuild advisory committees around specific tasks

  Pillar 10 promises to re-empower and restructure the Township's advisory committees and task forces around specific tasks, projects and questions. Pillar 8 adds a public safety committee meeting quarterly.

  Langley Strong

• Rebuild relationships with Langley City, First Nations and senior governments

  Pillar 3 promises to rebuild working relationships with the City of Langley and Fraser Health, a regional alliance to press the Province and TransLink, work with four First Nations, and a yearly meeting plus a working group with the Langley School Board.

  Langley Strong