For provincial election candidate Lawrence (Wei Ping) Chen, the biggest impediment to getting his message across in the riding of Richmond-Queensborough is overcoming the seemingly insurmountable amount of money being spent on campaigns by the big parties — BC Liberals and BC NDP.
That’s why he, along with a growing chorus of other concerned citizens, is calling for electoral finance reform.
“I would like to recommend a union and corporate donation ban and limit donations. The Liberal government makes too much money. I have no money!” exclaimed Chen.
In Richmond, he observes a troubling trend in the Chinese community.
“Some Chinese, they want to exchange benefits with the (BC) Liberals. So, they give money. I’m not like that. (Some) always think, ‘money, money, money.’ That’s why I want to change the law,” said Chen.
By limiting donations to individuals and capping the amount, Chen said voters will be better positioned to focus on policies and not expect something in return.
Chen is a federal Conservative-leaning individual, who last ran in the 2013 provincial election as a B.C. Conservative in the Richmond Centre riding, garnering 961 votes, or five per cent of the popular vote.
He said subsequent leadership squabbles within the party led him to form a new party, dubbed the New Republican Party.
Don’t let the name fool you, he said; there’s no intention of turning Canada into a republic.
“I just like the name . . . In Canada, no one uses the name,” said Chen.
The BC Wildlife Federation CORE hunting safety instructor and examiner and Surrey resident, said he is focused on three big issues: One, he wants to roll dental care into the Medical Services Plan, paid for by finding efficiencies; Two, he would remove the carbon tax, as global warming is “not an issue;” Three, he would work on improving community safety, as there are “too many thieves in Richmond.”
As a hunter he takes issue with the BC NDP’s call to ban the grizzly bear hunt. He said the hunt can and should continue, when done legally.
“We can still keep the balance of the animal population, if we obey the law,” said Chen, adding he enjoys heading into northern B.C. to hunt bears, deer and cougars, while taking in fresh air, the latter of which he cherishes considering he was born in Beijing, China.
