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Happy Thursday, friends!
It's a beautiful Thursday in Langley with sunshine and mild temperatures, perfect for enjoying the outdoors before tomorrow's Halloween festivities bring rain and cooler weather.
Today's roundup covers more of Langley City's Ottawa advocacy mission for housing and transit, local community events, and important reminders for keeping pets safe during Halloween.
We also dive into Premier Eby's controversial power line legislation, systemic inequality in Canada's tax system, and sports updates including the Blue Jays' historic World Series run and the Abbotsford Canucks' ongoing struggles.
Langley City Advocates for Housing Density and Jobs in Ottawa
Langley City councillors and Mayor Pachal met with federal leaders last week to advance local priorities including housing affordability, job creation, and infrastructure improvements.
The delegation pushed for updates to 50-year-old airport height restrictions near the future Willowbrook SkyTrain Station, which currently limit density that could help address the housing crisis.
Council also advocated for federal support to develop a Food Tech hub leveraging local industry strengths, secure transit funding ahead of the 2029 SkyTrain opening, and replace aging water and sewer infrastructure.
Mayor Nathan Pachal emphasized the importance of championing the community's needs at the federal level to build a more connected, transit-oriented city.
Aldergrove Non-Profit Hosts Baby Clothing Giveaway for Families in Need
Clothes2U will host a baby item giveaway on Saturday, November 1, at its Aldergrove headquarters from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For $3 cash, families can fill a bag with up to six free baby clothing items.
Founder Ernie Jantzen said the event responds to a surge in baby wear donations and aims to help families struggling with tight finances.
The non-profit, which has operated since 2002, is currently seeking donations of men's wear, ladies sleepwear, and lingerie.
Halloween Doesn't Have to Be Ruff for Your Four-Legged Friends
Halloween's costumes, doorbells, and fireworks can be overwhelming for dogs, but simple preparation can help keep pets calm and secure.
Create a quiet retreat away from the front door with familiar bedding and calming music to mask outside noises.
Keep all candy, especially chocolate and raisins, safely out of reach, as these are toxic to dogs.
Skip the costumes in favor of a festive collar or bandana, maintain regular feeding and walk schedules, and bring dogs indoors before fireworks begin to reduce stress and anxiety.
Eby Threatens Snap Election Over Power Line for Fossil Gas Industry
Premier David Eby is threatening to call an early election if opposition MLAs block legislation for the North Coast Transmission Line, a $6-billion project primarily intended to supply electricity to liquefied natural gas facilities in northwest BC.
Conservative Leader John Rustad responded by saying "let's dance," arguing the province lacks sufficient electricity to justify the line and that local power generation would be more cost-effective.
The BC Greens have expressed concern about bypassing the BC Utilities Commission's oversight and using public power to support fossil fuel infrastructure, though they voted to continue debate on the bill rather than delay it for six months.
Analysis: Canada's Tax System Engineered to Protect Wealth and Fuel Inequality
While ordinary Canadians struggle with record-high income inequality, the top one percent hide at least $682 billion in offshore tax havens.
This represents a 165 percent increase over a decade.
Many of these havens are former British colonies like Bermuda, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands. They form part of a colonial system designed to benefit wealthy elites while starving governments of tax revenue.
Canada loses an estimated $3.65 billion annually from individual offshore tax avoidance and up to $15 billion from corporate tax dodging.
Companies like Brookfield maintain 44 subsidiaries in tax havens to legally avoid paying their fair share.
Despite 92 percent of Canadians supporting crackdowns on tax haven abuse, successive governments have enabled these schemes, prioritizing corporate interests over public services.
Quebec's Young Sovereigntists Go Digital in Movement Revival Attempt
A 17-year-old rapper and TikTok sensation has declared himself the CEO of Quebec's next generation of sovereigntists, and he's taking a decidedly modern approach to an aging political movement.
This young activist claims to be more influential than traditional political figures, leveraging social media platforms to reach audiences that conventional sovereignty leaders have struggled to engage. The movement that once dominated Quebec politics has been searching for ways to connect with younger generations who didn't live through the referendum years.
It's a fascinating intersection of old political aspirations and new communication methods, though whether viral TikTok videos can translate into lasting political change remains to be seen. The sovereignty movement has always been about capturing hearts and minds, but the battlefield has definitely shifted to digital platforms.
Blue Jays One Win Away from Breaking 32-Year Championship Drought
The Toronto Blue Jays are heading home with the sweet taste of a 6-1 Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and dreams of their first World Series title since 1993.
Davis Yesavage delivered a historic pitching performance that has put the Blue Jays in the driver's seat with a 3-2 series lead, setting up what could be a championship-clinching Game 6 on home turf.
The rookie's dominant outing came at exactly the right moment, silencing Dodgers bats and giving Toronto's offense plenty of room to work.
Canadian baseball fans haven't had much to celebrate at the highest level in recent decades, making this World Series run feel particularly special.
The pressure will be intense for Game 6, but having the chance to wrap up the series at home adds an extra layer of excitement for what could be an unforgettable night in Toronto sports history.
Abbotsford Canucks Tie Franchise Record with Sixth Straight Loss
The Abbotsford Canucks matched a franchise record with their sixth consecutive loss, falling 2-1 to the Calgary Wranglers in a shootout on Wednesday.
The defending Calder Cup champions have struggled badly at home, going 0-3-0-1 this season, with goal scoring a major issue as they've managed just 13 goals in eight games.
Vancouver's injury crisis has gutted the roster, forcing Abbotsford to call up players from the ECHL and sign new contracts just to field a team.
The Canucks face the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday and Sunday, with another loss breaking the franchise record for consecutive defeats.
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