Leith White

I … would agree with what I've heard in terms of the processing time for applications. It's critical. As Lauren said, time is money And, and that is a critical aspect of the whole process. I think we need to do more, as Blair mentioned, about leveraging technology to actually process permit applications and plan plans that are being submitted. There's a lot of advancement that has taken place in many other communities throughout BC that are doing this. For me, the critical thing about the whole housing aspect, which feeds into our finances, is actually what we're charging for DCCs. And I'm going to bring it back to that because right now, from my perspective, we are undercharging on DCCs. And it is it is creating a structural deficit within our community. And that means that if we're not charging enough, in the end, taxpayers hold the bill. They are the ones that are having to cover the gap between what should have been charged for infrastructure going in versus the reality of what they're being charged. So, thank you.

Leith White, Independent Candidate, time is money, and it's the one lever that the township can really move is the aspect of time, and that's processing applications. Every month, a project sits in the queue, it carries costs, and those costs get carried and passed forward on to consumers. The other thing I would suggest is ensuring that hiring and staffing for this particular area is adequate and sufficient, because there can't be those sort of delays that hold back these projects, as well as the use of digital processing, vital that we use the technology that's available. The other aspect is, thank you.

So I'm a big fan of BRT. I think it's critical, especially along the 200th street corridor. Having the ability to move people, transportation along that corridor is vital for our community. It's connecting peace to SkyTrain station at Willowbrook mall, and without that kind of coordination and enhanced plan for transportation, It's just going to cause further problems. I think there are problems. That we need to look at In terms of … feeding … transportation lines towards the … corridor, that's going to be a critical component that needs to be evaluated and make sure that we have that done very well. In terms of … what was the other last? … [The moderator repeated the second part of the question.] Oh, … yeah, well, I'm a fan of active transportation of bike lanes. I think they're essential. What we have to do is make sure that, obviously, it's not impeding, uh you know, vehicles and transportation, um major transportation carrying goods. Thank you.

Thank you, Cory. My decision-making style and my leadership style is very collaborative. Listening is key, and in my past four years as I've served on Langley City Council, it's been one of my strengths in being able to Engage not just the public, but also my peers, Council peers, in being able to have those conversations and being able to have those difficult conversations. Nowhere in the world does it work where people stop talking and stop working collaboratively. That garners a great result. If you want a good result, you have to know how to talk with people and work with people, and doing that on Council is essential. Facing, As Kim Richter said, a lot of crises, and one of them is a relationship. Crises and that matters and so this is one of the issues that we have to fix on Council and is one of the reasons why I'm running thank you.

Specialized training and Agri background, education, updated bylaws with enforcement that has teeth and revisitable.

Rural plan 30 years old/outdated, must be updated. Include farmers that require edgewater provisions. Direct to non ALR Fraser Hwy employment lands; press province for 264, Abbotsford solutions.

Commit to resources and budget for ditch maintenance like we fund road maintenance. Build into capital plan.

Yes, I do. I would definitely support a climate action plan. The issue that this touches on is really one of water. That is the risk. And with the amount of paving that we're doing, our runoffs, our infrastructure is not able to support that sort of runoff. And so we have to be attentive. We have to be investing in that infrastructure because the risk that we have regarding flooding, both in farmland, and in our urban environment is critical. So absolutely, I do support it. Thank you.

Having worked in the Langley community for the last 25 years, specifically with the homeless community, one of the key things that I see is truly a need for adequate advocation. And as has already been mentioned with the provincial government for services, there are communities within BC that are receiving housing funds and resources with unhoused individuals at a lesser ratio than what you find in the township of Langley. And that's just not acceptable when you look at the density of the issue that we are living with. So that is a huge factor. Thank you.

Thank you, Cory. And thank you to all of you for joining us tonight. My name is Leith White. I am an independent candidate running for Township Council. My wife and I are … 30-year Township residents, along with, well, in the last 15 years in Willoughby. My family comprises of my wife, obviously, and eight grandkids. You know, I have to ask the question and make the statement that the, first 30 years of our life is I think spent primarily understanding who are and what we're about and learning how to put it into practice. And so I come to you with 33 years now of practice, business experience, public service and charitable service within our community for the last 25 years. And I look forward to running for a Township Council and bringing the skill set to you in the next term. Thank you.

Thank you for being here tonight. You know, I've learned that in life, how we do things matters as much as what we do. And how Council functions and operates as a group in serving you is the most critical aspect of what they are called to do. And so, I ask you to vote independent. And in saying that, I'm saying do your due diligence, look at the facts, consider the people, and make your choice. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Leith White and I am an independent candidate. I say independent because the idea of independence is that you're alone. And I realize that actually I'm not alone. Working as an independent candidate, you're forced to work. You understand that you have to work with other leaders, other councillors, other individuals within our community. And that really is the strength behind what an independent brings. So my wife and I have lived in the township community for 30 years. And my last four years I've spent on council with Langley City. And I'll finish there.

Leith White, independent candidate. I'll start off by saying this, I'm an independent, and I fully support the characteristics and the attributes and the value that independence brings to the pool of candidates for council. Having said that, the challenge that I give to you tonight, is that you vote with your conscience, you vote with your conscience, you vote for individuals that you feel will make a significant difference within the community, that can contribute to the community, that are vested in the community. Thank you.