FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    October 30, 2008

CONTACT: Doug McFee  604-534-6727     

 

The Salmon River Enhancement Society (SRES) will host its fifth Environmental All Candidates Meeting for this year’s Langley Township elections on Monday, November 10.  Society director Doug McFee states, “We are pleased to welcome the Yorkson Stewardship Committee, Langley Conservation Network and the Friends of the Trans Canada Trail group as co-sponsors for this year’s event.”

 

The meeting gives each candidate an opportunity to outline their environmental background and philosophy after which the candidates are asked questions posed by the sponsoring societies.  The meeting will then be opened up to questions from the floor.  Questions should be related to environmental issues, parks and trails.  Improving the way TOL interacts with the public is also an issue that may be addressed.  

 

The Environmental All Candidates Meeting follows a very successful Water Forum held by SRES on October 22.  “We were overwhelmed by the attendance at the Forum and pleased at the level of interest and discussion”, says Mr. McFee.  “We have posted information related to water issues on the SRES website WWW.salmonriver.org as water is clearly one of the most important issues for this Township election.” McFee continues. 

 

The candidates’ answers to three written questions will also be posted on the SRES website before the All Candidates Meeting.  One of the questions addresses the water issue asking candidates for their suggestions to improve the TOL Water Management Plan and asking whether they would retain the moratorium on development over the Hopington area until the water table is restored to a healthy level.  Two other written questions ask candidates whether they would support a new cooperative vision for the Fort Langley floodplain including a public trails network and whether they would improve the way TOL engages the public.  Background information is posted on the website with the questions.    

 

 “We are again fortunate to have Mark Forsythe of CBC Radio One’s B.C. Almanac as moderator for the event.  Mark has done an outstanding job in the four previous Environmental All Candidate meetings.” says Mr. McFee.  Mr. Forsythe is a resident of Fort Langley and is familiar with local issues.  

 

“The Salmon River is still relatively healthy and TOL continues to have great environmental values,” says McFee “but there are many issues that should be addressed to protect what we have.”  

 

The meeting will be held at the Chief Sepass Theatre at the Langley Fine Arts School, 9096 Trattle Street in Fort Langley starting at 7 pm Monday, November 10, 2008.