Misty Van Popta's Dual Role Ends
Langley-Walnut Grove Conservative MLA Misty Van Popta's controversial practice of collecting dual taxpayer salaries while juggling provincial and municipal duties will come to an abrupt end Thursday when new legislation forces her resignation from Township council.
The Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act, which passed third reading at the B.C. Legislature Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 48 to 41, specifically targets MLAs like Van Popta who have been "double-dipping" by holding both provincial and local government positions simultaneously.
The bill, introduced by Esquimalt-Colwood NDP MLA Darlene Rotchford, received support from BC NDP and Green MLAs while facing opposition from BC Conservatives.
Van Popta's divided attention between her roles has become increasingly problematic for Langley residents.
Township council minutes reveal a troubling pattern since February: the MLA arrived an hour late to four different council meetings due to conflicts with Question Period in the legislature (reference to minutes: February 24, March 10, April 7, May 12) and missed Monday's council meeting completely (May 26).
Despite these attendance issues, Van Popta continued collecting a combined salary of $189,853, making her the highest-paid provincial politician outside of the Premier.
Contract With Langley Loses Its Majority
Van Popta's forced departure threatens to shake up the political coalition that has controlled Langley Township since 2022.
She was elected to council as part of Mayor Eric Woodward's Contract With Langley slate, which secured a comfortable majority to implement their municipal agenda.
With Van Popta's removal, the Contract With Langley team will control only three of the eight council seats: Tim Baillie, Steve Ferguson, and Rob Rindt. While Mayor Eric Woodward retains his office and vote, his team now holds just four seats out of nine total positions. This shift means the Contract With Langley councillors could theoretically find themselves outnumbered on key municipal decisions.
The impending by-election to replace Van Popta adds uncertainty to an already volatile situation. If an opposition candidate wins, it could fundamentally alter Langley Township's political direction and make life considerably more difficult for the Contract With Langley team.
Rotchford's Bill Targets Legislative Conflicts
NDP MLA Darlene Rotchford, who championed the anti-double-dipping legislation, argued for focused representation.
"If you're serious about this being a full-time job and you're serious about helping British Columbians, MLAs should be focused on their work in the legislature, not splitting their time and focus while collecting two taxpayer-funded salaries," Rotchford stated.
Van Popta has remained defiant about her dual roles, calling the legislation a "mockery of democracy" and arguing that it could cost Langley taxpayers up to $500,000 in by-election expenses. She defended her decision to maintain both positions, claiming it allowed her to "bridge municipal and provincial responsibilities."
However, her track record suggests otherwise. The pattern of tardiness and absences documented in council minutes paints a picture of an MLA unable to adequately serve constituents at either level of government while drawing full compensation from both.
The situation mirrors similar conflicts in Abbotsford, where Conservative MLA Korky Neufeld continued sitting on the school board until belatedly taking a leave of absence after facing criticism.
As Van Popta's time on council draws to a close, Langley residents face the prospect of a costly by-election and significant shifts in their local political landscape.
The end of her double-dipping arrangement may finally provide the focused municipal representation that taxpayers deserve, but at a considerable financial cost to the community she claimed to serve.