The NDP nominated former Richmond resident Gian Sihota as the Richmond-East candidate to take on longstanding Liberal MLA Linda Reid for the 2013 provincial election.
Im excited to bring positive change to the people of Richmond-East, said Sihota, who has been the president of the Richmond-East NDP constituency association for the past 14 years.
Sihota, a strong advocate for human rights, the protection of farmland and services for youth, plans to focus on traffic congestion in Richmond-East, particularly the infamous Massey Tunnel and Highway 99.
He said the NDP would come to a quicker solution than the Liberals have been able to on this issue.
If we form the next government in May, well find the best option after a public consultation and we wont leave this issue on the back burner, said Sihota, who has been a transit operator for Coast Mountain Bus Company for 31 years. We need to make changes in the infrastructure and build a better transit system.
Sihota also spoke about giving the city more control over protecting farmland and encouraging residents to buy local produce to help farmers who cant compete with products imported from the States.
Its the province that has the power to change the law to make sure we dont lose any more farmland, he said.
Sihota has a bachelors degree in education and a masters degree in economics. He currently lives in Ladner, after being a Richmond resident for 28 years.
He was formally acclaimed as the BC NDP candidate at a meeting on Saturday (Jan. 26) at St. Albans Anglican Church.
Gian has been an active member of the Richmond-East community for many years, said BC NDP leader Adrian Dix in a press release. He will be a great candidate, and Im excited to start working with him.
