Riding Profile: Langley-Aldergrove

Leon Jensen
The Liberal Party

Leon Jensen has served as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and continues his service today as the President of The Royal Canadian Artillery Association.

“I will work with and support the local municipal and provincial leaders in order to build the Langley-Aldergrove region of the future,” he says. “It will be an environmentally sustainable future with a goal of bringing in clean environment investment to provide local jobs for local people.”

Jensen says he has a keen interest in sustainability, and wants to be “a person that’s not afraid to get his hands dirty cleaning up our local waterways.”

He restates the Liberal Party’s platform promise on education, which includes increased student grants up to $1,200 with no repayment until an individual’s salary reaches $35,000.

“I’ve walked the talk when I was in the Canadian Army, and I’m ready to do the same to be a strong voice for Langley-Aldergrove,” he says.

Tako Van Popta
The Conservative Party

Tako studied at Trinity Western University and UBC to obtain his law degree, and subsequently worked with McQuarrie Hunter LLP for over 30 years while it became the largest law firm south of the Fraser River. He has also volunteered as a board member with the Langley Memorial Hospital and a senior’s home called Elim Housing Society.

According to the Aldergrove Star, When asked whether he would support the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, which runs through the Langley-Aldergrove riding, Van Popta said, “absolutely yes,” reiterating the Conservative promise to scrap Bills C-69 and C-48. He also touted Canada’s “ethical oil” in contrast to nations with poorer human rights records regarding the obtainment of natural resources such as Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

“It is incredibly humbling to have been nominated the Conservative candidate for Langley-Aldergrove,” he told the Aldergrove Star. “Now the real work begins. I look forward to hitting the doorstep soon to speak with voters from across our riding.”

Stacey Wakelin
The New Democratic Party

Stacey Wakelin ran for the Langley Township Council in 2018 and has been involved with grassroots advocacy supporting accessibility and inclusivity, particularly when it comes to addressing the growing homeless population in her riding.

“Affordability and a need for increased healthcare are two issues close to my heart. In this community, lack of transportation is an issue for many, and I hope to see more permanent funding. I will advocate strongly for this riding on all of these issues,” she says. “Both personally and as an NDP candidate, we need to see all levels of government take the lead in addressing climate change.”

For students, Wakelin stands with her party’s belief that “accessing post-secondary education is out of reach for too many youth,” and that “the government needs to stop profiting from student loan debt.”

She also says that interest should be eliminated from student loans, and says that “taking bold action to address climate change” is a good way to invest in the future of students.

“I have been involved in volunteering and organizing community building events for five years, and I would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in a new way,” she says.

Kaija Farstad
The Green Party

Kaija Farstad is a librarian who says she is devoted to teaching, learning, ecological sustainability, and social equality.

The issues Farstad hopes to address if elected are climate change, poverty, housing, healthcare, and “reconciliation by facilitating federal funding to the municipality.” She adds that Canadians need “systems that include economy as an important component of a healthy society, not the sole component of any interest of importance, to which everything else must be carelessly and continually sacrificed.”

Farstad stands with the Green Party’s “detailed and evidence-based plan” to make post-secondary education free, dismiss student debt which amounts to more than $10,000, and propose a basic guaranteed income.

“Our system isn’t working. People continue getting poorer. Sixty per cent of plant and animal diversity on earth has been killed just in my lifetime,” she says. “The traditional parties have brought us to this point. Many of them prefer to continue with business as usual. That’s terrifying, but there is hope in change. Vote for change.”