FRANK HUANG BC NDP
Frank Huang, the BC NDP's candidate for Richmond-Centre, said that as a newspaper editor he is used to having his finger on the pulse of the community.
And when it comes to Richmond, his volunteer time spent with the Richmond Hospital Foundation has left him with a keen sense of how he'd like to see heath care addressed in the city - one of several issues he was asked to comment on as the May 14 B.C. election nears.
Huang, who left his job with the Global Chinese Press to run for the NDP, said he'd favour a new location for Richmond Hospital to accommodate expanded services.
"I'd also want more attention paid to seniors (healthcare)," he said, adding that in conversation with local seniors groups it became apparent to him that current funding
levels are not adequate. "Seniors are very important to the community and the government needs to spend more to deliver more and better services."
Also in need of a jolt of increased government support is the education system, Huang said.
"An NDP government is planning to set up a grant system for skills training because quite a lot of students have (tuition) debts before they start working. And getting that first job is very important. If they can get one, then they can stand a good chance of going on to a very good career."
Taking a page out of the environmentalists' handbook, Huang said improving public transit is a key block in his party's agenda since increased ridership would decrease vehicle emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
But just where increased funds would be spent to benefit Richmond residents, Huang was not sure.
On providing affordable housing, Huang said he has an idea that has a specific Richmond angle - regulating absentee landlords.
He said many overseas investors have bought properties locally which has helped drive up the price of local properties, and some don't end up living in them for long, producing a double whammy of rising housing costs and a shortage of housing inventory. To address that, Huang said increased funding for more low income housing is on the "to do" if the NDP forms the next provincial government.
As for the low voter turnout in Richmond-Centre during the last election, Huang said he believes much of that is a result of a cultural divide in the community where the majority does not speak English.
"But this time (election) is really good. There are a lot of Chinese candidates running in this riding, and they are encouraging people (Chinese-Canadians) to come out and vote," he said. "But many of the Chinese immigrants, especially those from mainland China, they don't know much about the (local) politics."
That has led Huang to incorporate not only a crash course in what he sees as the issues during his campaign encounters with new voters, but a discussion on what it means to participate in an election.
