Talk about diving into the deep end.
At the first door, BC Green Party candidate Ryan Marciniw knocked on, along Azure Road in the Richmond North Centre riding, he was hit with strong opinion.
“I don’t trust her,” said a Chinese-Canadian realtor, of Premier Christy Clark.
Evidently, it was the problematic way in which the BC Liberals introduced, last August, the foreign homebuyers’ tax (disrupting a number of pre-existing transactions) that irked the man.
Marciniw seized the opportunity on the complex issue.
“Do you think this was a purely political move, considering the market was cooling months in advance?”
“Yes, it was,” said the realtor, who subsequently voiced concerns about the BC NDP running a viable economy and the Greens not being large enough to make a difference.
Marciniw assuaged those concerns.
“We’re growing,” he said.
Marciniw didn’t exactly offer up the fact the Greens will double the foreign buyers’ tax; instead, he directed the realtor, and apparent free-agent voter, to the Green’s website.
Later, we discussed the notion those in the “Anyone But Clark” camp should strategically for the BC NDP.
“Why is the NDP so concerned about a third party now; now that we have momentum? It’s a cop-out argument.
“More choice is good for democracy,” said Marciniw, 46, an NDP supporter in early adulthood, when he helped unionize the casino he worked at. Only after studying political science and becoming motivated by Green leader Andrew Weaver’s climate change message did he make the switch, eventually joining the B.C. Green’s policy committee.
The seven-year Richmond resident frequently jogs up and down Azure, a neighbourhood, like so many, transitioning with mega homes, older residents and new Chinese immigrants.
At a new, tree-lined home, two Chinese permanent residents who wanted to vote said they were generally content, although they agreed if there was one issue that required fixing, it would be hospital services.
“The waits there are too long,” said a well-spoken woman.
The man suggested implementing private-pay health services, but cautioned he wouldn’t want an abusive for-profit system, such as China’s.
Marciniw is not supportive of a private pay system.
“Tommy Douglas is one of my heroes. (Public healthcare) is an issue that is dear to me,” Marciniw said.
In a riding that had the lowest voter turnout in the last election (38.9 per cent as Richmond Centre), language barriers existed for Marciniw at about one in five homes.
Regardless, Marciniw said he’ll be more focused on street-side campaigning, below hard-to-access City Centre condos.
One undecided Muslim woman told Marciniw she was concerned about Islamophobia. The education worker also said education and healthcare funding are among her concerns as she weighs her options.
“We’re the party of inclusiveness,” replied Marciniw.
“And you’re right. There’s been 16 years of austerity in education. It took the Supreme Court of Canada to get teachers’ funding back,” explained Marciniw.
We avoid the one Teresa Wat (incumbent BC Liberal) lawn sign on the block and march on.
Another apparent Liberal supporter politely denies him a conversation.
“That’s OK.
“But it’s good to have conversations. On Twitter, if someone disagrees with me, I make it a point to follow them. Let’s talk,” said Marciniw.
As the short walk winds down, one couple is found unpacking their groceries, too busy to have such a conversation.
But, “Anyone but Liberal,” the middle-age woman quickly quipped.
