CFIB ranks Township 48th of 66 Canadian cities, with a red-tape score tied for the worst in B.C.; new pillar sets firm permit deadlines, restores the Economic Development Department, and grows the tax base that protects homeowners
LANGLEY TOWNSHIP — The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has given the Township of Langley a failing grade for how it treats small business, and Langley Strong today released the plan to fix it: Respect for Our Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs, a pillar aimed at making Langley the easiest place in the region to start and grow a business.
CFIB’s September 2026 report graded Canadian municipalities on cost burden, regulatory burden and small business friendliness. The Township of Langley scored 4.10 out of 10, an F, ranking 48th of 66 nationally. Its regulatory burden score of 2.5 out of 10 ties for the worst in British Columbia, less than half of Abbotsford’s 5.5. Abbotsford, Richmond, Kelowna, Victoria, Surrey, Burnaby, Nanaimo, Coquitlam and Mission all earned higher grades than Langley.
“I run a business, and I know what waiting costs. Now the numbers are in: Langley got an F, and on red tape we are tied for the worst in the province,” said council candidate Shumail Javed. “Under Langley Strong, a permit decision comes with a deadline, you can track your file like a package, and a real Economic Development Department has one job: bring employers to Langley and grow local jobs. An answer, on time: that’s respect.”
The pillar puts firm time limits on permit and licence decisions, creates a 3-1-1 style tracking standard so applicants always know where their file sits and who is responsible, ends the use of fees and approvals as leverage over job creators, reinstates the Township’s Economic Development Department with a mandate to attract investment and jobs, reviews Tourism Langley to ensure hotel-tax dollars deliver value, and grows the non-residential tax base to take pressure off homeowners. It also commits the Township to benchmark its permit times openly against its neighbours.
“Every employer that chooses Abbotsford or Surrey over Langley because our Township Hall won’t answer is a bill that lands on Langley homeowners instead,” said council candidate Kim Richter. “A wider tax base, not higher rates, is how you protect homeowners, and you cannot widen the tax base with a 2.5 out of 10 for red tape. I’ve spent 25 years making sure Langley’s money is accountable. This is more of that.”
“The current mayor has had four years to make Township Hall work for the people who create jobs. The voice of Canada’s small businesses just graded the result, and it’s an F,” said mayoral candidate Jay Lundgren. “Small businesses sponsor the jerseys, hire your neighbours and keep our town centres alive, and under this mayor they have been treated as a source of taxes and fees instead of a source of jobs. That ends on day one. Township Hall works for job creators, not the other way around.”
Respect for Our Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs is one of ten pillars Langley Strong is releasing ahead of the October 17 municipal election. The full pillar is at LangleyStrong.ca/Platform.
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About Langley Strong
Langley Strong is a team of Township of Langley residents running to restore respect at Township Hall: mayoral candidate Jay Lundgren and council candidates Lauren Chalus, Shumail Javed, Margaret Kunst, Barb Martens, Kim Richter, Teresa Townsley and Blair Whitmarsh, and with trustee candidates Candy Ashdown, Kathie Dalziel, Holly Dickinson, Charlie Fox, Neil Turner and Tony Ward. The full platform is at LangleyStrong.ca.
Media Contact
Karen Zukas
Media Relations, Langley Strong
Email: media@langleystrong.ca
