Annual Reports are a legal requirement for every municipality - their mandatory. There is though, a difference between complying with legislation and embracing accountability. The law requires municipalities to prepare audited financial statements. It does not require them to communicate well. It does not require them to explain complex financial decisions in plain language. It does not require them to help you understand what today's decisions will mean for your taxes five o

The vision was simple and, honestly, not wrong in principle. I support it with the right mechanisms and oversight in place - not just the endorsement of a single slate - the majority. Langley Township had been under built for some time. Roads have been crumbling. Fire halls were overdue. Parks were unfinished Thousands of new residents were moving in every year; all bringing real demand for real infrastructure. THE PLAN? Make growth pay for growth. That's what they say... Bo

THE BIG PICTURE (and a BIG post!) Between 2023 and 2026, the Township's total operating costs grew by nearly $97 million. From $334.3 million to a budgeted $431 million. That's a 28.9% increase in three years. Or roughly 9.6% per year. To put that in context: property taxes grew at about 6% per year over the same period. Operating costs are growing 50% faster than the taxes meant to pay for them. THE DEPARTMENT BREAKDOWN -THREE YEARS OF AUDITED DETAIL Here's where your money

If you've arrived here from a link and read the intro already skip down the page to the details - skip down to the detailed review on the Township's Revenue I want to acknowledge a lot of good work has gone into the ‘Fiscal” dialogue regarding the Townships finances - with a big shout out to Mike Parker and others for bringing much of this to the forefront; creating the needed awareness surrounding the financial situation the Township is in; the impact it WILL have on all pro

I think we can do better. I witnessed an exchange the other night that has stayed with me. Not because public debate is uncomfortable. It should be honest. It should be direct. It should challenge decisions, spending, process, and leadership. But what I witnessed went beyond that. Much of what unfolded felt less like debate and more like attack. Less like accountability and more like resentment. Less like leadership and more like performance. It made an impression on me, We a

There's much to be proud of in the Township - and there are alot of positive & genuinely exciting things taking place. That's obvious to see! And if you want the truth; that numbers add up and balance , you’ll definitely find that in the report. If you want the meaning behind the numbers, the real story - that requires transparency and that’s what’s lacking. Now - most people will never sit down and read the Township’s audited financial statements. I get that. They are long,

Had to rush to fit in , what was a FANTASTIC way to end my day yesterday the LAPS Paws on the Green Golf Tournament! Along with the rushing… I have to gush a little, because LAPS is one of those organizations that makes you proud to be part of Langley. The work they do is meaningful, compassionate, practical, and deeply felt across our community. They care for animals in need, help reunite lost pets with their families, support adoptions, provide sheltering and animal control

Another amazing and inspiring evening celebrating the graduating class of Vanguard Secondary School There are graduation ceremonies that mark the completion of a school year , and then there are moments like this, where you can feel the weight of every step it took for students to get there. For many of these graduates, the journey was not simple or straight. There were likely moments when the goal felt too far away, when finishing felt uncertain, and when what stood ahead ma

www.leithwhite.ca Experienced leadership matters. I was elected to Langley City Council in 2022 after years of seeing the human and community cost of inaction on social issues, especially homelessness. Through decades of pastoral ministry, I worked alongside vulnerable people and saw firsthand why compassion must be matched with accountability, public safety, and responsible governance. There’s been progress, but Yes - much more still remains to be done. Since being elected,

An open letter to Township Mayor & Council in response to Public Notice regarding the proposed Council Procedure Amendment Bylaw No. 6234 : Mayor Woodward and Members of Council, Hoping this finds you all well! I am sending this email in response to the public notice, re Council Procedure Amendment Bylaw No. 6234 proposed for 1,2 & 3 reading June 15th. In response I am asking Council to pause two of the proposed amendments in this report. These changes affect how future Counc

www.leithwhite.ca Here’s the honest truth about a slate at the municipal level- It’s most often about control as a voting block, driven by a pre-set agenda. It often doesn’t even matter if that representation has experience — as long as they get elected and support the greater block. Because once that block owns the room, it determines what happens and how. Often, the result is that input, listening, collaboration take the back seat. If you’re not on my team, I can’t work wit

Every Wednesday morning I get to spend time with the most committed, compassionate, and inspiring people I know. This week there were 57 of us gathered together (starting at 5:30am )- I know I know it’s unbelievable… Volunteers! Kim and I have partnered together the last 12 years - with local businesses, social agencies, RCMP, government ministries, neighbours, and friends, all showing up for one purpose: to serve our community. Families, seniors, newcomers, and individua

👉 www.leithwhite.ca I think Leadership, at its best, is simply what being trusted looks like in action. There’s something people sense before they can explain it , a quiet read on a leader. It’s not just what do they know or what have they done… It’s who are they, really? That question matters. And you deserve a clear answer , from me, and from every candidate. Because we’ve all seen it , leaders who say one thing in one room, and something different in another. What gets lo

Experience isn’t a title. It’s what’s lived. For me, that’s 40+ years of REAL life. Patti my wife and I - raising a family of 4 kids, business, Senior Pastoral ministry, community/social service, and most recently municipal leadership in the City. Different arenas, one constant: PEOPLE. So my path to public service wasn’t sudden. It was formed over decades almost 20 years in executive and operational roles, small business ownership, and 25 years in senior pastoral leadership.

👉 www.leithwhite.ca Yes - I’m an Independent Candidate. Being independent doesn’t mean working alone though - quite the opposite. It means being free and open to work with all of council. I believe our community gets better results when different perspectives come to the table, ideas are openly tested, debate is honest, and decisions are earned through discussion, not decided in advance. That’s how you get good policy. That’s how you build trust. And I feel that’s how local

🙌 It’s official - I’m declaring my intention to run for Township council as an independent candidate in the October 2026 municipal election. Why am I choosing to run as a candidate for the Township rather than as an incumbent in the city for re-election? Bottom line, it’s because I really care, about my community and it’s future. It’s at a real crossroad. Its growth, its potential and people make its future exciting - but we have a lot of challenges that need to be addressed