TERESA WAT BC LIBERAL
Richmond Centre B.C. Liberal candidate Teresa Wat is convinced her media background trumps being a Richmond resident when it comes to connecting with voters.
"The whole mission of our radio station is to bring up all the issues facing the Chinese-Canadian community and to try to inform them what the mainstream issues are, so they can understand," said the CEO of Mainstream Broadcasting Corporation's CHMB AM1320.
"I want our Chinese audience to understand what's going on in the English-speaking communities, so I've been reaching out to both communities across the region, including Richmond."
If elected, she would encourage more dialogue between cultures. As an immigrant, but also a Canadian for 23 years, Wat said she understands both sides. Chinese-speaking immigrants could make more effort to learn an official language, while English-speaking residents can acknowledge the challenges one faces when moving to a new country.
But, like her party's platform, her primary focus remains on the economy.
She sees possible revenue in Richmond's tourism industry and economic growth in Asia.
"The Vancouver Airport is a good example," she said. "Every flight coming to our airport provides 100 to 150 direct jobs, and 400 indirect jobs, depending on whether people are coming here for tourism or convention purposes. With more people coming, they will see Richmond as a place for them to invest and come here for a vacation."
With rapid growth expected in Richmond, particularly the city centre, over the next 30 years, education, transportation and health care will be impacted.
Funding for these sectors will be generated by Richmond becoming the Asian-Pacific gateway and job creation, according to Wat. Part of the B.C. Liberals platform is to reduce the debt, while keeping taxes low.
"With more business in Richmond, we'll get the revenue and have more funding," she said. "So that's why the priority is to promote the economy. We have limited resources, we can't keep on borrowing money."
Although the Liberals continue to defend claims of a balanced budget, Finance Minister Mike de Jong promised to re-table the same budget after the election.
But when the NDP claimed a balanced buget in 1996, it became a $235-million deficit after the election.
A pre-election $495 million budget in 2009 turned into a $2.8 billion record deficit after Gordon Campbell was elected.
Besides the economy, Wat also plans to focus on community safety and policing, and seniors' care, as she said these issues have been priorities for the riding's constituents.
"Our senior population is growing. We need to ensure they have the education and programs and care they need and deserve. I also want to make sure they can get this from the comfort of their own homes."
