Only 12 of the 19 candidates from Richmonds three ridings attended Monday night at the citys first English-speaking all-candidates meeting.
And it was the conspicuous absence of many of the main protagonists two were Liberal candidates that caught the attention of many in the standing-room only, 140-strong crowd.
Each took turns responding to written questions from the audience at Minoru Place Activity Centre, while the organizer, Richmond Centre for Disability, moderated.
But Teresa Wat (BC Liberal), Frank Huang (NDP), both bidding for Richmond Centre, were missing, while Steveston hopefuls John Yap (BC Liberal incumbent) and Carol Day (BC Conservative) were also elsewhere.
Its unlikely their collective absences will do much to rectify the citys unenviable position as being among the lowest in voter turnout numbers in B.C.
Through her campaign manager, Wat told the News shed cancelled all engagements Monday after coming down with gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach or erosion of the lining of the stomach. Wat was apparently back on the campaign trail Tuesday.
Days representative passed on her apologies to the crowd, saying that Day had been called in at the last minute to help her party leader, John Cummins, at the live TV debate in Downtown Vancouver.
However, its the reasons given for the no-show of Huang and Yap thats bound to irk Richmonds voters the most.
Huangs campaign manager, Tim Chu, told the News that, although the NDP candidate was scheduled to attend the meeting, he chose, instead to go to a leaders debate watch party, to socialize with high donors to the campaign.
Our campaign is really rolling and there are a lot of donations coming in, said Chu, when told that some voters might have been disappointed not to see Huang at the meeting.
Yap told the News Tuesday hed been out door-knocking Monday evening and, similar to Huang, attended an event to support the team in connection to the live TV debate.
When it was put to him that some in the Monday night crowd suggested Yap didnt attend due to the recent controversy surrounding his resignation from cabinet in the wake of the ethnic vote scandal, he said, Its a very busy time of the year and we get lots of invitations to different events.
My focus has been on directly talking to the voters and getting out there door knocking. With this campaign, Im trying to maximize my time with the voters.
Yap said he couldnt commit either to attending Wednesdays or Thursdays all-candidates meetings at the Shiang Garden Restaurant (hosted by the Canada Asia Pacific Business Association) and at Richmond secondary (hosted by the Richmond Teachers Association.)
Yap said, however, he plans to attend next weeks meeting organized by the Touchstone Family Association.
Im accessible to the public and they can contact me anytime, added Yap.
At the meeting itself, the candidates fielded questions from a largely sympathetic audience on a wide range of issues, from transportation for seniors to the proposed oil and jet fuel pipelines to wait times at Richmond Hospital emergency department and illegal dumping on farmland.
The NDPs Richmond-Steveston hopeful, Scott Stewart, responding to a healthcare workers question about overcrowding at Richmond Hospital, said more acute care beds are needed so such patients can be moved on to create space in emergency departments.
Richmond East incumbent Linda Reid described the healthcare system as a work in progress, as always, and that Richmond has a huge gift in the hospital it has and that B.C. has a phenomenal healthcare system.
The Green Partys Richmond-Steveston candidate, Jerome Dickey, asked the audience if they agreed with BC Liberal veteran Reids latter assertion, prompting an ripple of no around the hall.
On the subject of affordable housing, Dickey also insisted the provincial government simply doesnt put enough money into the system to help with B.C.s 18,000 homeless population.
On the prospect of jet fuel being shipped up the Fraser River and piped through Richmond to YVR, the Greens Richmond Centre hopeful, Michael Wolfe, said hed be willing to sleep in front of the bulldozers if need be to halt the project.
Stewart, who told the crowd he was raised in a single-parent home, said hed like to see the minimum wage tied to the cost of living and see fees reduced for licenced childcare facilities to reduce the burden on families.
Most on the panel agreed that more resources need to be plowed into the Agricultural Land Commission to help it police the illegal dumping and infill on farmland.
Meanwhile the Unpartys Mike Donovan spoke of a need to return the power back to the people via town hall meetings and debate to reach a consensus on decisions that need to be made.
Next meetings
- Wednesday, May 1 at Shiang Garden Restaurant, 2200-4540 No. 3 Rd. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Canada Asia Pacific Business Association)
- Thursday, May 2, at Richmond Secondary School, 7171 Minoru Blvd. from 7 to 9 p.m. (Richmond Teachers Association)
- Wednesday, May 8 at Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel, 7571 Westminster Hwy. at 7 p.m. (Touchstone Family Association)
