STATEMENT FROM LANGLEY STRONG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Langley Strong Opposes Rushed Bylaw Changes That Undermine Council Fairness and Democratic Checks

June 11, 2026, LANGLEY TOWNSHIP, BC — The Langley Strong team is calling on the Township of Langley Council to immediately halt and defer proposed changes to its Council Procedure Bylaw, scheduled for a vote this Monday, June 15.

If passed, Bylaw No. 6234 will remove critical governance protections that ensure fair representation and political accountability. Specifically, the changes would lower the voting threshold required to formally censure a councillor and eliminate the rule guaranteeing all councillors an equal turn serving as Acting Mayor. The proposed bylaw is currently set to come into effect on November 2, 2026.

A Deceptive Shift in Power, Not “Housekeeping”

“Residents and Council are being told these amendments are just routine ‘housekeeping,’ but that is a blatant mischaracterization,” says Jay Lundgren, mayoral candidate for Langley Strong. “These are substantial, fundamental changes to the balance of power in Council. By removing long-standing structural checks, a five-member majority would gain unprecedented leverage to override and silence dissenting voices.”

These allegedly “housekeeping” amendments are a sad reflection of the state of affairs in our municipal government. When officials are elected to office, they have an obligation to look beyond partisan politics and use logic and reason to ensure fairness for all. This proposal weaponizes the Council procedure bylaw.

Langley Strong’s concerns are three-fold:

• Silencing Opposition Through Majority Censure: Currently, a two-thirds majority (six out of nine votes) is required to censure a member. The current threshold preserves the ability of all councillors to act in good faith, think freely, and vote independently, without fear of reprisal.
• The Legal Precedent: While some argue that the Local Government Act allows for a simple majority, legal experts have noted that the Act merely establishes a legal floor. A democratic Council has the full authority to set a higher ceiling—such as a two-thirds majority—to protect fairness. Lowering this bar to a five-vote majority allows any governing majority to weaponize public condemnation against councillors who challenge their ideas, removing the vital component of consensus.
• Dismantling the Fair Allocation of the Acting Mayor Role: The current rules guarantee that every councillor serves an equal number of weeks as Acting Mayor, ensuring fairness and an equal distribution of leadership experience and community visibility among all councillors. The proposed bylaw deletes the word “equal” and allows the schedule to be changed “from time to time.” This leaves the door wide open for a dominant majority to control the political alignment of the Township.
  
  

Flawed Process, Artificial Urgency, and a Failed Integrity Standard

The timing and manner of handling of these amendments raise serious questions about transparency and true intent. Notice was only given on June 8, and the public is barred from speaking to this bylaw at the Monday afternoon Council meeting. Residents have been given an incredibly tight window of seven days to voice their concerns by written submissions only.

Why this? Why now?

The urgency behind this rush is unjustifiable. With four meetings left before a municipal election in just over 100 days. The public has a right to know what is driving this sudden change of policy. Have there been censure attempts behind closed doors that the public is entirely unaware of? If so, residents have a right to know what those issues were, what happened, and what the results were. Otherwise, there is no valid reason to institute changes right now.

Furthermore, on April 2, 2026, the Province of British Columbia introduced Bill 17, which establishes a mandatory, province-wide code of conduct and an independent process for complaints and investigations regarding the censuring of councillors.

By November 2nd, this provincially mandated framework will be in effect.

This raises more questions: Does the mayor intend to fastrack passing these amendments?  “If the mayor attempts to bring the new rules into effect prior to the elections, that will prove our concerns to be valid,” says Lundgren.

“Public trust isn’t built by a majority slate rushing through temporary rules to consolidate its own authority,” adds Lundgren. “Fair governance requires equality, transparency, and a system that ensures all voters are represented in chambers. Our residents should know that the diversity of views on Council is to their advantage as it lends to better decision making and well rounded policies.”

Langley Strong’s Position

Langley Strong is calling for a responsible and cautious approach. Council should defer both amendments until:

1. The provincial framework takes effect, allowing the Township to align its policies with a credible, independent province-wide code of conduct rather than creating a temporary bylaw.
2. The next Council is elected on October 17, giving the newly elected representatives a direct say in how they govern themselves.
   
   

How Residents Can Take Action

Because there are no in-person speaking opportunities at Monday’s meeting, public input must be swift:

• Written Submissions: Residents can email their written opposition to legservicesinfo@tol.ca before the strict deadline of noon on Monday, June 15, 2026.
• Direct Contact: Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Mayor and individual councillors directly via phone, email, or social media to demand that this vote be deferred.

The meeting will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday at the Township of Langley Civic Facility (Fraser River Presentation Theatre) and can be live-streamed at www.tol.ca/councilstream.

Media Contact

Karen Zukas
Communications Chair, Langley Strong
Email: media@langleystrong.ca