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AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal clean energy efforts lauded by MP

Question-and-answer feature calling on those elected to office in Langley
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Do you have a question you’d like to see put to the local members of Parliament? Email your idea to editor@langleyadvancetimes.com.

Langley Advance Times runs a new weekly feature, call it “At Your Service.”

It’s another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.

Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.

Alternating between elected groups, Langley City and Langley Township councils, Langley school board, Langley MLAs, and Langley MPs each have a chance to participate.

The answers provided will be published in their entirety online each Sunday.

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MOST RECENT – AT YOUR SERVICE: Opposition MLAs critical of NDP’s affordable housing record

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QUESTION

Both Langley MPs were asked the same question: What can Canada do to position itself as a leader in clean energy and battery technology through the next decade?

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ANSWERS

MP John Aldag

A. Canada is a world leader in terms of clean energy production, including renewable sources of energy like wind and solar energy. Our production of clean energy grows from one year to the next. We are proud that nearly 83 per cent of electricity produced in Canada comes from no- or low-emission sources.

We have committed to an ambitious plan to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 – as outlined in the Emissions Reduction Plan – which includes a plan to achieve a net-zero grid by 2035. We are also charting an ambitious path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve that goal, the federal government is investing in clean energy production and the development of new technologies in the energy sector.

Programs include:

• The $964m Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, to replace fossil-fuel-generated electricity with renewables and to fund grid modernization projects.

• The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program, which – coupled with additional investments in the Strengthened Climate Plan – provides more than $500m to get rural and remote communities – including Indigenous communities – off diesel.

Canada is a secure and sustainable supplier of critical minerals, which are in increased global demand and needed to support important manufacturing sectors such as battery technology.

Budget 2022 proposes providing up to $3.8 billion in support over eight years, on a cash basis, starting in 2022-23, to implement Canada’s first Critical Minerals Strategy. This will create thousands of good jobs, grow our economy, and make Canada a vital part of the growing global critical minerals industry.

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MP Tako van Popta

A. Secure energy is a main concern globally given the current Russian war on Ukraine.

European countries’ energy supplies are strained as a result of relying heavily on Russian natural gas, and in Germany many people are resorting to using firewood to keep warm this winter due to rising prices.

Championing made-in-Canada energy solutions is necessary to ensure future security for not only Canadians, but our allies worldwide.

Canada’s best assets have always been our natural resources and our innovation. Canada’s nuclear industry has seen recent positive development in Small Modular Reactors, which are likely to play a pivotal role in delivering low-carbon, clean energy while also supporting middle-class jobs.

Working towards cleaner energy is a big part of the picture, but the best solution will always utilize a suite of tools.

While directing funds and resources to developing these important green technologies like solar and wind, Canada must also step up to the plate by providing the world with natural gas that is reliable and ethically sourced.

An important step in taking on that role is constructing LNG exporting facilities on both coasts; from the West our natural gas can be exported to Asian countries still heavily reliant on coal, and to Russia-dependent Europe from the East. Providing the world with Canadian natural gas would go a long way towards a greener planet, as well as a stronger Canada.

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UP NEXT

During the next few weeks, leading up to the civic election – where residents will be going to the polls to elect, mayor, councillors, and school trustees on Oct. 15 – the Langley Advance Times will not be asking questions of the current municipal officials. That service will commence again after the “new” members have been sworn into office. In the meantime, please stay tuned for scheduled queries to the local MLAs and MPs.

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Watch for their answers online Sunday.

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PAST COVERAGE

AT YOUR SERVICE: City council weighs in on supervised consumption sites

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley trustees applaud positives found amid pandemic

AT YOUR SERVICE: Township council weighs in on lack of industrial land

AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs see feds as partners in SkyTrain to Langley

AT YOUR SERVICE: Creating more housing, on all fronts, critical to stabilization: MPs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Heat wave another call to action – City council

AT YOUR SERVICE: Pools need to be part of Township-wide recreation planning

AT YOUR SERVICE: No current need for year-round schooling in Langley, trustees agree

AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs suggest staying the course on battling of B.C. wildfire

AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs call for borders to be safely re-opened

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City council wants to keep higher density development north of Nicomekl

AT YOUR SERVICE: Passports key to keeping B.C. businesses open, people safe during pandemic

AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees ponder what kids are missing out on during pandemic

AT YOUR SERVICE: Education should trump rules for vaccination of health-care workers, suggest MLAs

AT YOUR SERVICE: How to handle rising housing prices

AT YOUR SERVICE: City council divided on call for indoor pool

AT YOUR SERVICE: Council ponders vaccine requirements for workers

AT YOUR SERVICE: Skyrocketing enrolment prompts intensified lobby by trustees

AT YOUR SERVICE: Political stripes aside, MLAs agree heat dome was tragic and action required

AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree much must be done to right wrongs for Indigenous

AT YOUR SERVICE: Is pay parking in the City a viable consideration?

AT YOUR SERVICE: Some suggest more needed to protect floodplains from development

AT YOUR SERVICE: Monitoring student transport not good use of school district resources – trustees

AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal caucus floats all-party committee in reaction to emergencies

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley MPs address issue of rising food costs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook

AT YOUR SERVICE: Future of Aldergrove core up for debate

AT YOUR SERVICE: Trees and more greenspace at root of climate change solutions

AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook

AT YOUR SERVICE: Councillors differ on future of SkyTrain beyond Langley City

AT YOUR SERVICE: Bigger schools not necessarily solution to rising land costs

AT YOUR SERVICE: High gas prices of concern for MLAs of both stripes

AT YOUR SERVICE: Military readiness for climate disasters must be ensured – says one MP; other says army only one piece of bigger puzzle

AT YOUR SERVICE: Empty homes can be safety concern, but not huge concern in City

AT YOUR SERVICE: Most of council content with current pothole repairs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Survey gives school district tools for staff recruitment, retention

AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal MLAs call for overhaul to B.C.’s student funding model

AT YOUR SERVICE: Canada must continue its support of Ukraine, MPs

AT YOUR SERVICE: Best use of industrial land paramount to Langley City councillors

AT YOUR SERVICE: More ALR land needs to be used for farming: Most of council

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley is attractive to school staff, but given rapid growth trustees agree more must be done

AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MLAs agree more must be done to make life affordable in B.C.

AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal parties working on multiple fronts to end hate crimes

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City ponders cannabis retail policy

AT YOUR SERVICE – Most on council say parks and rec plans address future growth

AT YOUR SERVICE: School district moves forward on reconciliation efforts with Indigenous partners

AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs agree diking upgrades needed, divided on if enough is being done

AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MPs disagree on whether 2 billion trees can be planted by 2030

AT YOUR SERVICE: In light of SkyTrain coming, Langley City embarks on parking study

AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley Township should consider schools for future cooling centres

AT YOUR SERVICE: Despite challenges, trustees affirm Langley is ready to accept more refugee students as need arises

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Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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