Mayor Malcolm Brodie says his strong opposition to replace the George Massey Tunnel with a mega-bridge does not overrule his continued willingness to work with the BC Liberals on other matters.
Highlighting this point, Brodie recently helped cut the ribbon at the office opening of BC Liberal candidate Jas Johal, who is competing for an MLA seat in the May 9 provincial election in the riding of Richmond-Queensborough, where the bridge is situated.
Brodie’s gesture is one of many from members of Richmond city council, who are throwing their hats into the provincial election melee, to various degrees.
The most overt instance is Coun. Chak Au, who is vying to become an MLA for the BC NDP in the Richmond South Centre riding. While Au had aligned himself previously with right-of-centre politics — by donating to the federal Conservatives and provincial BC Liberals — he said he had a change of heart this past year, charging that the BC Liberals have not kept several promises they made for Richmond.
Au now joins Coun. Harold Steves in the NDP camp, with environmentalist Steves being a long-standing member of the party and critic of numerous BC Liberal decisions, such as the bridge, the Site C dam and stated commitment to LNG production.
Another councillor sending a strong partisan signal is Alexa Loo, who was first elected into Richmond City Hall In 2014, with 582 votes more than first-runner up Andy Hobbs.
Now, she will be Johal’s campaign co-chair with former MLA Olga Ilich.
Loo, an independent councillor, campaigned in the last civic election with Steves in what was described as a “coalition.”
Since then, however, Loo and Steves have differed on many key issues.
Loo said she hasn’t ruled out running for provincial politics in the future. She said her commitment to the BC Liberals, and the issues they stand for, is a result of her education in business.
While provincial politics has driven a wedge between Loo and Steves, it has drawn Coun. Carol Day closer to Steves and Au.
These three have, many times, voted together on issues at city council.
But Day ran for the BC Conservatives last election and generally takes a populist tone, particularly when it comes to matters of development in the city. Day has attended some BC NDP events to date, and has been openly critical of the BC Liberals on issues such as school funding (she’s a former school trustee) and the Massey Tunnel project, among others. She’s also aligned on her civic slate RITE with Green Party candidate Michael Wolfe.
Also critical of the BC Liberal government, on matters including social service spending, has been Coun. Bill McNulty. However, McNulty was also at Johal’s ribbon-cutting, alongside Coun. Ken Johnston, a former BC Liberal MLA.
Brodie said the ribbon-cutting is nothing more than a gesture to keep “lines of communication open.”
Brodie said he understands the BC Liberals will build the bridge if elected and that the BC NDP will review the plan and simultaneously endorse the Mayor’s Council transportation plan (which doesn’t include a mega bridge at the Massey Tunnel).
“I will attend (political events) and I will vocalize my opinion at all times. And I have done so,” said Brodie, adding he would be just as willing to cut a ribbon for an NDP candidate, if asked.
Brodie personally donated to the BC Liberals in the past, but noted it was a “small amount” ($825 for last election). And, regardless, the mayor’s office remains non-partisan.
“I think my position as mayor is unique. It has differences to other positions,” he noted. “I’ve been to a number of openings. I don’t see the bridge as being the only issue that’s out there,” said Brodie, noting delays in building a hospital tower and seismically upgrading schools.
