Nathaniel Lim (BC Conservative)
New to the political campaign trail is BC Conservative Party candidate Nathaniel Lim, whose professional background is in social work as a family and youth counsellor.
But he is getting quickly up to speed on the issues in the riding, one of which is the jet fuel and coal shipping along the South Arm.
"As you may know, one of my (BC Conservative Party) colleagues is Carol Day (Richmond-Steveston). She's been quite involved with that," Lim said. "For me, I share many similar concerns as Carol with the jet fuel pipeline being proposed to go through several communities.
"(BC Conservatives) are for economic development and supporting efforts to find jobs for people here in Richmond and across the province," Lim said. "But we try to balance that with environmental concerns. And with that, a lot of people are concerned a (jet fuel) pipeline could cause a lot of damage if something went wrong."
On the subject of a proposed crossing from South Delta to east Richmond to deal with the congestion at the aging Massey Tunnel, Lim said it would not be a bad idea.
"It would divert a lot of traffic," he said. "I was looking at the map and wouldn't have to come all the way west. A lot of people could go straight through to the South (Fraser) Perimeter Road.
"It's a possibility, but there is a lot of concern it would cut through a lot of farmland, which would eventually be developed.
"If the crossing does go through there (east Richmond farmland) there will need to be something done to make sure the road doesn't get expanded and lose more farmland."
On illegal dumping on farmland, Lim said his party's budget on fiscal planning has called for increases to the judicial system.
"So, in that sense if the laws are there they can be enforced. And if the judicial system is not there to back it up, those laws will not be enforced," said Lim who has made a point of visiting the Finn Road protest to familiarize himself with the issue.
"I have seen it and heard the concerns of the farmers," he said. "Whether what they (farm owners) are doing is legitimate, that's up to the government to enforce and decide. But from what I see, there's a lot of rocks and rubble that doesn't look like other farm roads.
"Richmond has some of the best and most productive farmlands in the world, and I'd hate to see that lost. But again, that's private property, and it's up to the Agricultural Land Commission to make a decision."
