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| Thursday, October 8, 2015
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Federal candidates speak out
Cutting to the Chase
By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star
ART BANDENIEKS PHOTO
Cassidy Buchanan (in white jersey) of the Aldergrove Lightning U-12 Girls splits the defense of Langley United Saturday at Aldergrove Athletic Park.
Arson ‘targets’ Aldergrove home By MONIQUE TAMMINGA Aldergrove Star
An Aldergrove home was the scene of an arson on Sunday morning, said police. Around 4 a.m., a passerby called 911 after seeing the side of a home on fire in the 2500 block of 272 Street. “When we arrived the siding was burning,” said Township assistant fire chief Bruce Ferguson. “Our axes and fire hoses woke up the people inside.”
Langley RCMP have been investigating and said there isn’t reason for alarm after the suspicious fire. “This wasn’t a random act, it was targeted to this home,” said Cpl. Ali Mirza. Police have their sights on two males as possible suspects in the blaze. The investigation is active and ongoing, said Mirza. The residents of the home, who managed to escape without injury, told police they don’t know anyone who
would target them. Around $10,000 damage was done to the home. Fire investigators had taped off the house and were investigating Sunday. Police are still hoping to speak to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in and around the time of the fire. Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
More than 130 people filled the Aldergrove Legion Hall on Monday, to hear the Langley-Aldergrove federal election candidates speak. Three party candidates from the NDP, Greens and Liberals were questioned primarily on senior citizen issues, although the Libertarian and Conservative candidates were conspicuously absent from the event. The meeting was co-hosted by a number of local seniors’ organizations, and moderated by retired Langley Times editor Frank Bucholtz. Incumbent Conservative candidate Mark Warawa was unable to attend due to other commitments, according to Bucholtz, but there was no explanation for Libertarian Lauren Southern’s absence. Liberal hopeful Leon Jensen opened the proceedings by stating that, “The present government has not been honest and Canada’s international reputation is not what it used to be.” Noting that he had recently retired after 40 years service with the military, Jensen said, “”Justin Trudeau is just what we need.” Green hopeful Simmi Dhillon said “Langley is where I chose to raise a family nine years ago,” and while she had seen many changes in that time here she hoped to see the community grow in a positive fashion.
NDP hopeful Margot Sangster described herself as an “advocate for seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible” and for providing long-term care services when that time of life comes. “(NDP leader Thomas) Mulcair is the man we can trust to undo the damage (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper and the Liberals have done.” All three candidates pledged to reinstate 65 as the age of retirement for full pension benefits and to expand the Canada Pension Plan to help the more than 11,700 seniors in Langley, who on average live on $24,000 a year in pensions. Housing and health care were among the most important issues cited by those who stepped up to the microphone to question the candidates. Dhillon said the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation “needs to do more, provide access to grants, and the local community, builders need to contribute more to infrastructure and adaptable housing.” Noting that “too many people are priced out of home ownership,” Jensen said a Liberal government would provide $125 million in tax incentives to finance construction of new housing.” “Canada needs a bill asserting housing as a right,”
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