“We need stronger bylaw enforcement, with the ability to revisit rule breakers. And a dedicated team to cover our rural areas.”
Township of Langley · 2026 · by event
Langley Farmers' Institute: Candidates and Community meeting
Coghlan Hall, September 22, 2026. The Institute ran the evening as a workshop: candidates wrote their positions onto five numbered topic sheets. It has published its own record of three of the five so far, with written answers from 18 of the 19 candidates who came.
How this record was made
There are two sources, and they agree wherever they overlap. The first is the Institute’s own: from September 24 it has posted the sheets on its Facebook page, one question at a time, typed up with a name beside every answer. It keeps the paper sheets, so its names are the organiser’s, not a guess. Its typing has a few spelling slips that the sheets themselves do not have, such as “imput” for “input”; those are corrected below and nothing else is changed.
The second is our own reading of the sheets off the Institute’s livestream of the evening, made before its record appeared. The camera was a handheld phone, so no single frame shows a whole sheet; every entry was read from at least two frames and the readings compared. Where a stretch is hidden in every frame, it is shown as “…” rather than filled in.
In that reading a name appears only beside an entry signed on the sheet, and a line with no signature in the recording is shown without one. The spoken part of the evening is not quoted, because one recording with few self-introductions cannot show who was speaking.
Capital letters and abbreviations are the writers’ own. “AAC” is the Township’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, “ALR” the Agricultural Land Reserve and “ALC” the commission that runs it, “AVS” the Township’s Agricultural Viability Strategy, “SPEA” a streamside protection and enhancement area, “TOL” the Township of Langley, “LFI” the Institute itself, and “PFL” Progress for Langley. The Institute’s recording on Facebook.
Question 1: bylaw enforcement culture
The Institute’s record, posted September 25, 2026. Filed under Public safety and enforcement
“Support establishing an ALR commission with enforcement power. asking province to open up a community charter to give municipalities new powers and ability to give fines above $500 (bylaw limit), more support for education and deterrence of violators, active patrol and invest in infrastructure”
“Penalties that aren't looked at as the "cost of doing business" and exceed the profit of an illegal dump or fill, the ability to revisit after issuing a ticket for bylaw officers: True enforcement More bylaw officers trained in soils, currently only 2, and enforcement on illegal truck parking.”
“I support stronger enforcement. My background is in public service safety, and I believe rules only work if enforced. That means enough bylaw officers trained in agricultural issues including illegal fill, illegal dumping and truck parking, and the follow up and follow through. Dedicated rural enforcement so they know the area, the properties and the repeat offenders.”
“Township culture comes from the tone set at the top. Langley needs a Mayor and Council that respects each other and the rules we operate under.”
“Rural enforcement team, fines higher than taking a load to fill, right enforcement resources trained and expertise on soil and other issues, provide alternate to truck parking and enforce those bylaws, work with community to get feedback on enforcement and improve, officers need to follow up on ticketing”
“Establish new bylaws that address the rural challenges of today. Update Rural Plan. Plan to reflect the reality of ALC and coordinate enforcement with provincial agreement.”
“Update Rural Plan, Establish proper bylaw enforcement that is well trained and educated. Rules apply to everyone. Create fines that will actually mean something and enforce them. Include farmers in the conversation.”
“Stronger enforcement of Ag bylaw infractions, develop a dedicated rural enforcement team.”
“More planning staff to update bylaws, more bylaw enforcement and fines to regulate ditch filling, soil deposits, truck parking.”
“I align and support the above platform that my Langley Strong team shared so far. Review the Soil Deposit and Removal Bylaw with the AAC, the LFI and other stakeholders. Rural enforcement team (focus on soil, ditch filling and truck parking)”
“Bylaw enforcement has to have meaning. From ditch filling, truck parking, and soil dumping can displace land ag use. I support stronger enforcement, meaningful fines and follow up to ensure compliance. At the same time, we need to distinguish between farmers doing legitimate work and activities that use rural and farm land inappropriately. Use a light touch for real farming and firm enforcement for abuse.”
“By hiring more bylaw officers that are specifically trained in areas like soil, ALR restrictions and proper usage, direct and fast actions should be the goal of TOL, possibly a direct complaint line to speed up compliance and enforcement, easy access to rules for possible users and advocate to the province for faster ALC rulings and fund enforcement.”
“Continue expanding enforcement, update Rural Plan to help with areas of enforcement that are challenging, look at proactive enforcement, not just complaint based”
“Specialized training and Agri background, education, updated bylaws with enforcement that has teeth and revisitable.”
No written answer is recorded for Michele St. Germain, Michael V. Pratt and Steve Ferguson. The Institute notes that some groups ran short of time at the end of the evening, so this is not a statement of anyone’s position.
Also in the Institute’s record: Eric Woodward, “no comments, but a smiley face and an arrow to Tim Baille's comment”.
Question 2: truck parking and the rural plan
The Institute’s record, posted September 27, 2026. Filed under Agriculture and rural land
“Yes, the Rural Plan is 33 years old, and farming has changed in that time. Review the AVS and ensure farmland stays farmland. Truck parking is designated areas, as solution that will work for both sides. Highway 1 corridor; make this a component of a new rural plan.”
“Rural Plan update with all stakeholders, farmers, residents, staff, outside experts. Update so the community feels heard and respected. Find route for trucks, possibly after Highway 1 construction. Rural Plan should address truck parking. Ensure farmland stays farmland.”
“Update Rural Plan. Give enforcement powers to farm commission. Ensure farmland stays farmland. Update community charter to give more tools to the municipality.”
“Update Rural Plan very soon. Enforce bylaws including no truck parking. Create truck parking options along highway 1 corridor. Re do the Agriculture Viability Strategy.”
“Revise the Rural Plan, enforce the bylaws.”
“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.”
“More than 30 years old. A priority for this term along with the Agricultural Viability Strategy. But, it shouldn't be written at Townhall and then handed to farmers afterwards. Farmers, the AAC, LFI, staff and residents all need from the beginning. That is respect for our farmers. More bylaw officers, who are all trained to address agriculture issues, fines that actually matter, and follow up until the problem is resolved. Writing a ticket and never following up doesn't resolve the problem. I support dedicated rural enforcement, so officers know areas, the properties, and the repeat problems.”
“Update Rural Plan with LOTS of public input from all affected parties. Reduce large parcel subdivision on ALR land (keep big remaining farms at same size). More law enforcement and fines. Find suitable parking areas NOT on ALR areas.”
“Truck parking is a challenge. The Land Commission has a huge say on what uses are appropriate. (ie: right to farm) We have tremendously improved and added 11 bylaw officers (continue working with stakeholders and continue getting the job done).”
“Commercial truck parking is actively being enforced and 11 new bylaw officers. LETS keep this going. Lets review the effectiveness of existing penalties. Update the Rural Plan to provide the clear rules, create a level playing field and protect farmland.”
“We need to update the rural plan! Work to find parking solutions with industry and province. Increase enforcement and keep trucks on trucking routes. Include public input, farmers, Ag and Rural Stakeholders. Focus on zoning concerns.”
“We need to update the rural plan! We need to work with our provincial partners to have truck parking on crown land close to HWY 1 like they do in Europe! We can't address a problem without solutions. The trucks need a place to park not on ALR lands.”
“Rural Plan Update; enforcement and provide alternative to trucks. Include truckers and farmers to the table.”
“Do not remove ALR land especially for truck parking, use proper zoning for trucks. Truck parking is vital for farmers and it needs to be a part of a revised Rural Plan. SPEA land must be protected for environment and fish. It has been too long that the Rural Plan has been not been revised, part of our platform.”
“Stricter requirements for use of allowable trucks, must be related to on-site AG updated Rural Plan.”
“The Rural Plan cannot be written in a backroom. It needs public process and input of the LFI, and the AAC, and especially farmers of many sites and specialities. The people that farm the land bring expertise and residents and farmers need a formal role. The plan should be built with farmers not just presented to them. Truck parking; we need to protect the soil and streams at all cost. We need to enforce bylaws and give them teeth. We can't allow the "turning of a blind eye" to this problem. Our soil and water and food security depends on it”
No written answer is recorded for Eric Woodward, Michael V. Pratt and Mike Parker. The Institute notes that some groups ran short of time at the end of the evening, so this is not a statement of anyone’s position.
Also in the Institute’s record: Mike Parker, “two letters before he ran out of time- and before Coghlan hall started shut down”.
Question 3: water, aquifers and zoning
The Institute’s record, posted September 29, 2026. Filed under Water and aquifers
“We need to be more responsible with drawing from aquifers for urban use, to ensure that farmers and rural properties have a healthier aquifer to draw from. Using Metro water for urban use, while encouraging metering to reduce use and eliminate leaks. Could use Local Area Service process to facilitate municipal water use for larger water users.”
“We need to survey and understand the various farm uses to create a model of water drawn from aquifers so we can create a long term plan.”
“We should ask the province to do an aquifer study since it licences the water. We need to also understand the importance of water to farming and if there is metering which has been talked about, how will that affect the viability of the farm.”
Teresa Townsley, Barb Martens and Lauren Chalus
“Water is fundamental for farming and groundwater is part of Langley's overall water supply. We need to properly map and protect vulnerable aquifers and recharge areas, and that work belongs in the new rural plan. Before approving development, fill or other uses over a vulnerable aquifer, we should understand what impact it could have on the water underneath.”
“Include water availability within the renewal of the Rural Plan. Continue enforcement of non- agricultural uses on ALR land. Keep farms as farms, further subdivision only encourages non-farm use and puts pressure on water use/services.”
“Establish water metering. Conduct environmental studies on the state regularly so we get regular data. Protect ALR and ensure that ALR land is being used efficiently. Prove incentives to preserve/discourage subdivision.”
“Metro water to be used for urban water. Wells used for actual farm use crops/cattle/livestock and any kind of farm use.”
“Commit to resources and budget for ditch maintenance like we fund road maintenance. Build into capital plan.”
“18 aquifers and 14 watersheds by Township counted in provincial review of these in areas of concern. ie. Bertrand Creek. Usage: Metering? Encourage drip irrigation vs. spraying.”
“Update Rural Plan. Create dashboard with information for residents. Consult farmers.”
“Aquifers are declining and at risk verified by the province with over 7000 licensed wells and unknown un licensed, convert to metro water where possible, those areas that have aquifers actually recovering. Aquifers should not be used for so called emergencies as it does not work. Aquifers must be protected from current private well users and farmers. Water courses must be protected and respected for fish and other wildlife.”
“Water is critical for rural growth; identify vulnerable aquifers/recharge. Make these part of the new rural plan. Township should see the impact before approving new developments. Zoning details should also be transparent- soil, ditches, subdivision and density are in our control for approvals. Full aquifer map goes in rural plan, every application get tested on impact on aquifer.”
“Water is critical. Losing 8 municipal wells was not good for water use or climate management. We must protect the 18 aquifers in the TOL- working with LFI, AAC and other farming voices to manage water the best we can. Concerned about future of farming with 40% of ALR land being used for agriculture.”
Benjamin Neff marked agreement with Michele St. Germain’s answer. Lauren Chalus marked agreement with Shumail Javed’s answer.
Also in the Institute’s record: Eric Woodward, “A smiley face next to Tess Rouse's comment”; Eric Woodward, “made an arrow towards Tim's comment”.
Our reading of the sheets
Read off the livestream before the Institute’s record appeared, and kept as the check on it. Questions 4 and 5 are here and not above because the Institute had not posted them by September 30.
Sheet 1: rural enforcement
Filed under Public safety and enforcement
This sheet is headed with a given name rather than a topic, and nothing on it is signed in the recording, so it was not transcribed. The Institute’s record of question 1, above, shows whose answers it holds: the writing under the heading matches Shumail Javed’s.
Sheet 2: Truck parking and the rural plan
Filed under Agriculture and rural land
“More bylaw officers, who are all trained to address agricultural issues, fines that actually matter, and follow up until the problem is solved. Writing a ticket and never following up doesn’t solve the problem. I support dedicated rural enforcement, so officers know the area, the properties and the repeat problems.”
Barb Martens. Signed on the sheet: “(Barb Martens, Langley Strong)”
“DO NOT REMOVE ALR LAND ESPECIALLY FOR TRUCK PARKING, USE PROPER ZONING FOR TRUCKS. TRUCK PARKING IS VITAL FOR FARMERS AND IT NEEDS TO BE A PART OF A REVISED RURAL PLAN. SPEA LAND MUST BE PROTECTED FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FISH. IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG THAT RURAL PLAN HAS NOT BEEN REVISED, PART OF OUR PLATFORM”
Tim Baillie. Signed on the sheet: “TIM BAILLIE, PROGRESS FOR LANGLEY”
“Commercial truck parking is actively being enforced and 11 new bylaw officers. LETS keep this going”
Tess Rouse. Signed on the sheet: “(TESS Rouse . PFL)”
“lets review the effectiveness of existing penalties”
No signature on the sheet in the recording. The Institute’s record credits it to Tess Rouse.
“RURAL PLAN: - 30 YEARS OLD / OUTDATED MUST BE UPDATED. → THIS MUST INVOLVE FARMERS. REQUIRE EDGE, WATER PROVISION”
Leith White. Signed on the sheet: “LEITH”
“Time to update - More than 30 years old. A priority for this term along with the agricultural viability strategy. But, it shouldn’t be written at Town Hall and then handed to farmers afterwards. Farmers, the AA…”
No signature on the sheet in the recording. The Institute’s record credits it to Barb Martens.
Sheet 3: Water, aquifers, zoning
Filed under Water and aquifers
“Water: We need to be more responsible with drawing from aquifers for urban use, to ensure that farmers and rural properties have a healthier aquifer to draw from. Using Metro Water for urban use, while encouraging metering to reduce use and eliminate leaks. Could use Local Area Service process to facilitate municipal water use for larger water uses.”
Michael V. Pratt. Signed on the sheet: “(Pratt)”
“Water: We need to survey and understand the various farm uses to create a model of water draw from aquifers so we can create a long term plan.”
Mike Parker. Signed on the sheet: “Parker”
“Water: We could/should ask the province to do an aquifer study since it licenses the water. We need to also understand the importance of water to farming, and if there is metering which has been talked about, how will that affect the viability of the farm.”
Margaret Kunst. Signed on the sheet: “KUNST”
“Water is fundamental for farming and groundwater is part of Langley’s overall water supply. We need to properly map and protect vulnerable aquifers and recharge areas, and that work belongs in the new rural plan. Before approving development, fill or other uses over a vulnerable aquifer, we should understand what impact … could have on the water underneath.”
Barb Martens. Signed on the sheet: “(Barb Martens, Langley Strong)”
Part of this is hidden in every frame and is left as an ellipsis rather than guessed at.
“Water: Metro water to be used for urban water. Wells used for actual farm use crops/cattle/livestock any kind of farm use.”
Michele St. Germain. Signed on the sheet: “Michele St. Germain”
“Include water availability within the renewal of the … Continue enforcement of non-a… uses on ALR land. Keep farms as farms, further subdivision only encourages n… and puts pressure on water use / …”
Tess Rouse. Signed on the sheet: “(TESS R…”
Part of this is hidden in every frame and is left as an ellipsis rather than guessed at.
Sheet 4: Agriculture advisory committee
Filed under Agriculture and rural land
“the AAC should be regularly consulted on agriculture related business/decisions that come to Council - with appropriate timelines for staff or Council feedback. They should be a required body for ag consultation”
Blair Whitmarsh. Signed on the sheet: “Blair Wh. (in the margin)”
“stop wasting AAC members time!”
No signature on the sheet in the recording, so no name is given.
“The AAC’s role is very limited. It is an advisory committee. The AAC members should play a bigger role in decisions regarding agriculture. The land commission. They need to play a bigger role in our TOL Policy making process”
Margaret Kunst. Signed on the sheet: “(KUNST)”
“THE AAC — WHERE TWP. HAS A DECISION TO MAKE RE: FARMLAND, IT SHOULD BE HAVING WEIGH-IN FROM THE AAC. IT ALSO NEEDS A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN THE RURAL PLAN. WE NEED TO ASK THE MEMBERS AND MANDATE WHAT WOULD ALLOW THE MOST EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AAC. AAC MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCED AND WE NEED TO RESPECT AND CLARIFY THEIR ROLE.”
Teresa Townsley. Signed on the sheet: “TERESA TOWNSLEY, LANGLEY STRONG”
“1. GIVE COMMITTEE A CLEAR SAY IN WHAT THEIR ROLE SHOULD BE. 2. UPDATE AAC T. of R. accordingly. 3. Council should consult with AAC more often.”
Kim Richter. Signed on the sheet: “Kim Richter (Langley Strong)”
Sheet 5: Board of variance
Filed under Agriculture and rural land
Two points are on this sheet in the recording, the second still being written when the camera moved on, and neither is signed, so nothing from it is transcribed here.
Last reviewed September 30, 2026.