John Aldag
Running with the BC NDP

鈥� Candidate鈥檚 age: 61
鈥� What neighbourhood of 91原创/Aldergrove/Abbotsford do you live in? Walnut Grove
鈥� How many years have you lived in 91原创 or Abbotsford? 19.5 years
鈥� Have you held political office in past? Yes - Member of Parliament representing Cloverdale-91原创 City for 7 years (2015 - 2019; 2021 - 2024)
鈥� Profession: Left 34-year career with Parks Canada for politics in 2015 when elected federally, so most recently 鈥� politician.

Candidate Bio
My wife and I moved here in 2005 to raise our 3 children. I developed a passion for our community through years of volunteerism in our community (tourism, daycare, sports, arts, seniors, service clubs). I left my 34-year career with Parks Canada in 2015, when I was elected as the Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-91原创 City. I am now running where I can focus on many issues raised by our community during my time in federal politics such as health care, housing, the high cost of living, transit, transportation, homelessness, and climate change, but that are more effectively addressed provincially. My wife works as a hospitalist in the Fraser Health Authority. Our 3 children completed all their schooling in the public education system in Walnut Grove.
 
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Email: john@johnaldag.ca
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鈥� Phone: 604-366-3711

Candidate Question
We asked all candidates a question about how they envisioned 91原创 in 20 years, and what they and their party would do to get us there: 
Thanksgiving 2044 is approaching, and I have many errands to complete before the holiday. I鈥檓 able to easily take transit to my local shopping centre, which is thriving with businesses offering everything our community needs. I drop my groceries off at home, then jump on my bike and take the interconnected trail system to the local farmers鈥� market, loading up on locally produced gifts. On my way home, I pass by several schools. The portables have been gone for years. I鈥檓 able to plan a weekend of fun activities for our kids and grandkids, who live close by in their affordable homes purchased 20 years ago. Our tourism attractions are thriving, and we have facilities for arts, culture, and sports to enjoy together. And just like in previous years, we don鈥檛 have to worry about any mishaps during the weekend because we can get fast care from our local medical clinics, or worst case scenario the hospitals in our community, without having to leave our region.
 This is all possible because of the visionary government we elected in 2024, who invested to make sure we have a livable community that provides good jobs close to home, lets us move efficiently around our vibrant community, looks after our educational and medical needs, all while leaving money in our bank accounts to raise our families and save for retirement. 
Those are the investments we need today, to ensure 91原创 is the community we want and need 20 years from now.

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Harman Bhangu
Running for the BC Conservatives

He chose not to participate in this forum.

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Alex Joehl
Running with the BC Libertarians

鈥� Candidate鈥檚 age: 42
鈥� What neighbourhood of 91原创/Aldergrove/Abbotsford do you live in? Murrayville
鈥� How many years have you lived in 91原创 or Abbotsford? Nine years
鈥� Have you held political office in past? No
鈥� Profession: Meat department manager at a grocery store

Candidate Bio
I鈥檝e lived and worked in 91原创 since 2015 with my wife and son. Being one of the only 91原创-Abbotsford candidate that actually lives in this riding鈥檚 boundaries, I know the challenges it faces. Population growth has put upward pressure on housing prices and our hospitals in 91原创 and Abbotsford struggle to keep up with demand.
Libertarian principles are ingrained in us before pre-school 鈥� Don鈥檛 hurt people, don鈥檛 take their stuff. I have made it my goal to educate people about our philosophy every opportunity I get, running for MLA twice, MP three times, as well as in local elections.
I鈥檓 proud to be leader of the BC Libertarian Party, who have been advocating for lower taxes, more choice, and real freedom since 1986.

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鈥� Phone: 778-862-4605

Candidate Questions
We asked all candidates a question about how they envisioned 91原创 in 20 years, and what they and their party would do to get us there: 
91原创 has long been an attractive destination for its combination of rural areas and a modest urban centre.
SkyTrain is coming and with it will bring a spike in demand to the surrounding area. We鈥檒l need more housing, and fast. It鈥檚 easy for provincial politicians to blame local governments (permitting process and zoning restriction),but Victoria can help 91原创 by revisiting the Residential Tenancy Act and making it more attractive to build rental housing and be a landlord. There are also layers of requirements that add to the cost of building homes, like the Energy Step Code, which must be paused. Non-arable land within the ALR should be released, to allow housing development, which will take pressure off the more dense portions. 
With housing prices stabilized we should see a decrease in homelessness, but what about those also struggling with addiction? The war on drugs has failed. People should have the opportunity to purchase drugs from reputable businesses, instead of consuming the toxic street drugs.
We鈥檒l need to upgrade medical service immediately 鈥� Access to a waiting line is not health care. B.C. needs to allow residents to get the best care they can obtain, even if that鈥檚 outside the public system.
Yes, more doctors and nurses is a no-brainer, but how will we fund it? By cutting the bureaucracy. Corporate spending by Fraser Health increased by 50% from 2022 to 2023. Germany has the same doctors per capita as Canada, but less than one-tenth of the administrators.

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Karen Long
Running as an independent

鈥� Candidate鈥檚 age: 65
鈥� What neighbourhood of 91原创/Aldergrove/Abbotsford do you live in? Abbotsford
鈥� How many years have you lived in 91原创 or Abbotsford? I recently moved to Abbotsford after having lived in Aldergrove for 34 years.
鈥� Have you held political office in past? I have not held political office in the past, but I have been involved in 91原创-Abbotsford as a community leader and volunteer for over 25 years.
鈥� Profession: I am recently retired but my primary passion for decades has been as a 鈥減rofessional volunteer鈥� and community organizer and leader.

Candidate Bio
I have been a community leader in 91原创-Abbotsford for 25+ years. I know the issues and concerns, and have the connections, work ethic, and leadership experience to get things done for this riding.
 As MLA, I will focus on:
Seniors鈥� issues
Health care
Affordability
Public safety & crime
Agricultural / farming & food security concerns
 The BC NDP has provided slow, ineffective solutions, while the BC Conservatives push outdated and extreme policies. As your independent MLA, I will support centre-right, free-enterprise, fiscally conservative policies to ensure the right and left work together.
I want to be your voice in Victoria 鈥� I am the only candidate who has been committed to this community 鈥� heart and soul 鈥� for more than 25 years.

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鈥� Phone: 778-401-6488

Candidate Questions
We asked all candidates a question about how they envisioned 91原创 in 20 years, and what they and their party would do to get us there: 
We are facing significant challenges in many areas of provincial responsibility 鈥� long health care waits, a lack of funding for seniors鈥� care, poor transit options in Aldergrove and the Gloucester industrial area, delayed and over budget major transportation projects, and an affordability crisis that is seeing young people leave our province for Alberta and elsewhere.
B.C. is the best province in Canada, and I truly believe that 91原创 is one of the most diverse, inclusive, and welcoming communities in the Lower Mainland.
As an independent MLA, I will work to force the right and left to work together for common-sense solutions to our challenges. 
Through my decades of experience as a community leader, I know we can do this by ensuring all levels of government work together to listen to and support the organizations and people who are on the ground 鈥� these are the individuals who truly know what the real needs and solutions are.
We must be fiscally responsible, reduce/limit the growth of the public sector, and support the private sector to provide jobs that will strengthen our economy, so that in 20 years my children and grandchildren can enjoy a prosperous future right here in 91原创-Abbotsford.

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Melissa Snazell
Running with the BC Green Party

鈥� Candidate鈥檚 age: 47
鈥� What neighbourhood of 91原创/Aldergrove/Abbotsford do you live in? Aldergrove
鈥� How many years have you lived in 91原创 or Abbotsford? 12
鈥� Have you held political office in past?  I have not had any previous political experience, though it has been part of my plan once my son graduated high school.
鈥� Profession: Registered pharmacy technician

Candidate Bio
I am a mother, wife, and daughter. I have concerns about how the province is run from each of those perspectives, including housing affordability, access to transit, mental health for youth, health care, and support services for the aging population. I have a strong desire to protect the habitat that sustains all aspects of life and want to protect our ecosystem. I am running in this election ahead of my personal schedule, because there was an opportunity and I really believe that we need Green Party representation in the legislature to act as the voice of reason, to de-politicize issues and get to the heart of the issues and provide solution-based policy options. 
 
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鈥� Phone: 604-897-0335 (text message only)

Candidate Questions
We asked all candidates a question about how they envisioned 91原创 in 20 years, and what they and their party would do to get us there: 

91原创 is in a unique position in the sense that we are country and city all in one. 
In 91原创 and Abbotsford we have some of the most fertile agricultural land in the province. I believe that we need to use our position to hold onto our ability to grow food that can feed the province, as well as other options to provide food security for the people of 91原创 as well as our neighbours 鈥� issues don鈥檛 have borders. 
I envision 91原创 in 20 years to have affordable housing that allows young and old to feel secure in knowing that they can afford a home to live in. 
I would like to see better options of transit, such as a train on the tracks from Vancouver out to Hope, to ease the pressure on the highway. 
I have ideas to start updating our education system to allow it to blend into a future that will include AI, because we won鈥檛 have a choice. We need to start considering new ideas. 
I have worked for Fraser Health and experienced the cumbersome weight of over management and stifling bureaucracy that is costing us money and efficiency. I would like to advocate for some major changes to the health-care system that I believe would bring some relief to the crisis state it is currently in. 
If any individual or association would like further discussion on these topics, feel free to contact me. I don鈥檛 have all the answers, but I am listening. 

鈥� See langleyadvancetimes.com and for more on other 91原创 candidates running in neighbouring ridings