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About
Muriel Arnason:
Muriel attended the University of British Columbia where she obtained
a degree in Sociology and in Education. She also has a degree
as a vocal teacher from the Royal Conservatory of Music and still
enjoys participating in music lessons.
Muriel has worked in the Parks and Recreation field with the City
of Surrey.
She enjoys volunteering her time to important causes and groups
which has included coordinating the Langley Christmas Hamper Bureau.
Muriel was married October 23, 1948 and has been married for fifty
five years to her loving and dear husband John. Muriel and John
have raised four children.
As to her beliefs; Muriel States: “I
was an Independent Councillor and proud to represent and serve
the handicapped, the elderly, the unfortunate, and the residents
of the Township of Langley.”
Muriel remembers the Wars and the Great Depression. She knows
what it is like to be poor. She was a foster child and knows the
sorrow of broken homes. She has a great compassion for the less
fortunate, and regards it as her duty and pleasure to serve people
in need.
Muriel says: “I am elderly and feel resentment when the elderly
are not given the respect they deserve. The high standard of living
that people enjoy today comes from the hard work of previous generations.
As a Township Councillor I earned $21,000.00 per year and survive
on that without a pension. I also incurred no expenses to save
the taxpayers money.”
Muriel Arnason’s Opinions:
When asked for her opinion Muriel states:
* “I do not believe that the Township should borrow money
to pay for future needs; I believe in zero-based budgeting. In
other words, each year the budget should balance;
* I do not think that the Township Council should have preferential
rights, as that could be an unfair advantage over other citizens;
* I believe that heavy taxation (for example, gas prices) and
the over use of credit cards will see a great increase in the
underground economy;
* As the price of homes rise, secondary suites flourish and our
streets will become ever more clogged;
* I believe that the City of Langley and the Township of Langley
should amalgamate and avoid duplication of services;
* I disagree with Bill 73 which enables the Provincial Government
to over-ride any municipal legislation and bylaws;
* I worry about the agricultural future of the Township. Urban
areas are encroaching into the rural areas;
* I worry about pollution which contributes to an increased amount
of harmful UV rays and the health problems that could result;
* I worry about the acid rain destroying our streams and the fish
and wildlife that live in them;
* I worry about clear-cutting and how it is destroying our forests,
the animal inhabitants within the forests, and our clean air;
* The jet and gulf streams are changing simply because of the
destructive effect that people are having on the environment;
* The cost of services, such as water and sewage are rising, as
is the price of land;
* The financial squeeze on the middle class is being reflected
by an increase in split families and unruly children;
* The best government is the least government;
* As for the Ten Year Financial Plan so strongly supported by
the Council, only the first year needs to be accurate, the rest
is supposition.”
Muriel also says: “We owe a debt to our young people; we
do not have the right to destroy our land. The bible says that
children shall rise up and call their ancestors blessed, but they
will not if we continue to degrade our environment.
And Nicholo Machiavelli said it best in his book, ‘The Princes’
“It is necessary for princes to make promises; it is not
necessary for princes to keep them.”
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