Councillor | Township of Langley | SFU m.urb |
Langley Township, BC
Joined March 2011
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Michael Pratt retweeted
Inside Canada's first-of-its-kind stacked arena complex in Langley Township.
Featuring 5 arenas, with 4 of those arenas stacked in two-level configurations.
This includes 2 dry-floor arenas and 3 ice rinks, including a 1,200-seat arena. #vanre #vanpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/aren… – at Sydney, New South Wales
Michael Pratt retweeted
every forecast had this quarter pegged as the rebound. ottawa projected +1.4%. rbc and td both said +1.7%. q4 was the dip, q1 was supposed to be the recovery.
we got roughly zero growth
yes, this is a technical recession but
the longer pattern is what really matters and what concerns me most
real gdp per person grew 0.6% in all of 2025. it fell in 2024. it fell in 2023.
we haven’t become richer per person in years, and it’s crazy to me that we keep acting surprised when our growth is stalled
we have fundamental productivity and investment problems that won’t fix themselves
I will sound like I’m beating a dead horse here, but worth repeating again… we know what we need to do to fix this:
1. make capital gains and corporate tax rates at least as good with the US, if not materially better. across all industries.
2. open up protected markets to competition (telecoms, finance, dairy, transportation etc)
3. rapidly reduce bureaucratic red tape and slow process across the board, not just for favoured projects or sectors
and finally, let’s all remind ourselves that we can just do things. every Canadian can be part of fixing this. we can collectively hustle - aim high
Canada can be the richest country in the world, if we choose to be
The Canadian economy edged into a technical recession as weak business and government spending drove a slight contraction in the first quarter bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Michael Pratt retweeted
“Government isn’t judged by the size of its plans or the ambition of its announcements. It’s judged by whether things actually get done,” writes @BradWestPoCo for @BeatNorthern
northernbeat.ca/opinion/forg…
Insanity. In the best possible way. – at Langley, British Columbia
CONCACAF confirms that Liga MX giants Cruz Azul will indeed play CPL last-place finishers Vancouver FC at Langley's 6,500-seat Willoughby Community Park.
First leg Feb 4. That'll be cold.
The away leg will be at the 69,000-capacity Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Feb 12.
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Michael Pratt retweeted
These should be household names in Canada:
1. Abitibi gold district (ON/QC)
2. Elk Point potash jurisdiction (SK)
3. Elk Valley coal district (BC)
4. Sudbury Basin (ON)
5. Golden Triangle (BC)
6. Athabasca uranium basin (SK
7. Labrador Trough (NL/QC)
Michael Pratt retweeted
You could get $80 billion in new exports from a mbpd Northern Gateway pipeline, maxing out and expanding TransMountain, and exporting max capacity from all currently approved LNG projects in BC.
Add in max potash, gold, copper, and uranium production from current and planned projects and you’re pretty close
Set it at boom prices and you’ve got it
I'm going to mull over Carney's speech before I say much. But. One thing he said, I wanted to drill down on. He wants to double non-U.S. exports in a decade.
So, what's that look like?
2024 total exports: $720 billion
2024 exports to U.S.: $547 billion
2024 exports to everyone else: $174 billion
For fun, I then compared that to provincial economies by GDP. Best fit is Saskatchewan, with 2024 GDP of about $80 billion. So our goal, over a decade, is to increase non-U.S. exports by a dollar amount comparable to a bit more than two Saskatchewans' worth of total GDP.
I also compared it to the GDP for the City of Toronto. Carney wants Canada, over a period of a decade, to increase non-U.S. exports by an amount comparable to roughly one-third the City of Toronto's GDP.
I don't have any feelings about these numbers yet. But those are the numbers. Make of them what you will.
Michael Pratt retweeted
With all six Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol ships delivered, @RoyalCanNavy now has the largest extant single class and, at least for the time being, the largest fleet of #icebreaking patrol ships in the world.
Mission accomplished! The full fleet of 6 arctic and offshore patrol ships has been delivered to the @RoyalCanNavy under the #NationalShipbuildingStrategy. This boosts sovereignty, supports operations at home and abroad, and strengthens Canada’s economy.
#AOPS #NSS15
ALT Image of arctic and offshore patrol ship William Hall
ALT Image of arctic and offshore patrol ship Rolette
ALT Image of arctic and offshore patrol ship Hampton Gray
ALT Image of arctic and offshore patrol ship Margaret Brook
Michael Pratt retweeted
Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITBs) are the most important policy for shaping how defence spending contributes to the Canadian economy.
They require defence contractors spend an amount equal to their contract value in Canada as "offset obligations".
The core aim is to make sure that spending on defence supports a broader ecosystem and promotes dual-use technologies. But today there are restrictions that seriously limit the program impact:
- ITB obligations account for over $64 billion in spending but more than $15-billion remains unallocated. Billions of committed dollars are sitting wasted waiting to be deployed.
- The program has few mechanisms for contractors to purchase innovation. The Venture Capital Fund (VCF) mechanism was meant to solve this by allowing investments in venture capital. But, current restrictions mean this mechanism is underused and a credit has never been publicly reported.
- In general the program requirements are too narrow. The definitions for what qualifies as a SMB and the very high Canadian content rules disqualifies many companies that would be a huge benefit to the defence ecosystem.
Canada could significantly transform the impact of the ITBs by:
1) Fixing the Venture Capital Fund within the ITB program so it can compete with simpler direct transactions and reflects best-in-class VC practices.
2) Adapting the existing VCCI program to improve the venture landscape for defence in Canada.
3) Updating the restrictions on company size and Canadian content value to reflect the realities of building defence technology.
Canada spends tens of billions of dollars on defence each year and that amount is expected to rise dramatically in the years ahead. ITBs should ensure the work defence contractors do improves Canada’s sovereign capabilities. But to drive real investment it is essential the program can solve both contractor business objectives and drive Canadian ecosystem investments.
Read the full memo below:
Proud to announce that I'm joining Eric Woodward’s Progress for Langley team on Council. We've accomplished a lot in three years, but there's still so much more to do, and I'm excited to keep it going. – at Langley, British Columbia
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Here's my full announcement:
instagram.com/reel/DOMOCF2gX… – at Langley, British Columbia
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Michael Pratt retweeted
Yes, China is implementing crippling tariffs on Canada's $5b canola exports. And yes, the same to its $1.1b seafood sector. And yes it may also be interfering in Canada elections, and arming our enemies abroad, and using forced/child labour.
BUT.
Damn, it builds cheap ferries.
#Breaking: China announces 75.8 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola
trib.al/lW3b63J
Michael Pratt retweeted
LANGLEY UNITED HAS QUALIFIED TO THE 2026 CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP! 🏆🇨🇦
After securing the League1 BC men’s title with a last-minute 3-2 victory over the Whitecaps FC Academy, the Langley-based side secured its spot in next year’s Voyageurs Cup, marking their first-ever appearance in the competition. #CanChamp
📸 Ali Arabpour
First year in the league and are immediately champions. Congratulations! – at Langley, British Columbia
CHAMPIONS! Congratulations to Langley United on becoming the 2025 @League1BC Men’s Division Champions.
A last second penalty from Amir Ghasemi saw Langley beat Whitecaps Academy 3-2 to win their first L1BC title.
Congratulations to head coach Azad Palani and the players.
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Michael Pratt retweeted
CHAMPIONS! Congratulations to Langley United on becoming the 2025 @League1BC Men’s Division Champions.
A last second penalty from Amir Ghasemi saw Langley beat Whitecaps Academy 3-2 to win their first L1BC title.
Congratulations to head coach Azad Palani and the players.
Michael Pratt retweeted
NordSpace is rapidly approaching its first launch! The historic launch from Canadian soil of our Taiga sub-orbital rocket, powered by our 3D printed Hadfield engines, will represent a massive leap forward for Canadian sovereignty in space and for assured access to it.
We’re completing final rehearsals and tests in Ontario at our manufacturing facility and engine test facility, as well as ground preparations in Newfoundland at the SLC-02 site of our spaceport - the Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX). Our portable launch system includes rapidly deployable launch towers and ground equipment, as well as a fully mobile Mission Control.
Long days and even longer nights, relentless testing, fast problem solving, and our blood, sweat and tears have allowed us to come so close to launch so quickly. NordSpace is also rapidly advancing several projects including:
🛰️ Our first satellite, Terra Nova, launching in 2026
🛠️ Our in-house satellite AIT facility, capable of shipping one satellite per month to start
🚀 Our orbital engine and turbo pumps for our Tundra rocket
🏗️ Spaceport construction, commercial launch approvals, and significant regulatory work
🔬 Several ground breaking R&D projects in advanced manufacturing of composites and metal 3D printed components
🏭 Plans to quadruple the size of our rocket factory by 2027
At NordSpace, we fundamentally believe the most successful version of our future as a company and as a nation is a truly Canadian end-to-end space missions capability. This is exactly what we’re building, and we thank you for your support.
Biggest win for the club so far.
Hopefully, the inflection point in our history we needed.
#CanPL – at Langley, British Columbia
VANCOUVER FC WIN 🦅
The Eagles are moving on to the semi-finals of the TELUS Canadian Championship after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Cavalry 🔥 @vanfootballclub
#CanChamp
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Michael Pratt retweeted
VANCOUVER FC WIN 🦅
The Eagles are moving on to the semi-finals of the TELUS Canadian Championship after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Cavalry 🔥 @vanfootballclub
#CanChamp
I really, really hope British Columbians don't let the current Provincial government off the hook with this one.
I can accept a lot, but handing our number one geopolitical challenger a massive contract like this, and gaslighting BCers into thinking it's our fault, is nuts. – at Langley, British Columbia
Politicians from different parties toured @Seaspan in North Van recently, emerging with differing opinions about BC Ferries’ decision to build new ships in China and next steps to grow local shipbuilding.
My latest in @TheOrcaBC:
theorca.ca/commentary/rob-sh…
