Kenny Chiu, the rookie Conservative candidate for Steveston-Richmond East, officially opened his campaign office in City Centre Thursday afternoon, while specifically targeting the issue of marijuana decriminalization and legalization.
Chiu — a former Richmond school trustee — was joined by pediatric orthopedics surgeon Hon. Dr. Kellie Leitch, an MP from Ontario to kick off the opening on Park Road, in the northwest corner of his riding.
Leitch said marijuana reforms (with the Liberals and Greens proposing to legalize and regulate while the New Democrats aim to decriminalize) would put more of the drug in the hands of children, which could lead to health issues such as development problems and schizophrenia.
When asked why he made marijuana the primary issue in his news release, Chiu said he has been hearing, via door-knocking, that ethnically South and East Asian constituents, for the most part, are concerned about reforming the drug laws.
He said the Chinese community is particularly concerned.
Chiu said marijuana in China is considered a "poisonous material" and there is deep-seeded distrust for drugs given the country's history of opium wars (despite such apparent sentiments the Communist regime holds over half of the marijuana patents in the world).
He questioned whether marijuana legalization would be a slippery slope to legalizing hard drugs.
Chiu also noted under a government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Conservatives have lowered the tax burden of individuals and its economy has benefited from over 40 new free trade deals that have helped put Canada in an envious economic position amongst OECD countries.
He also noted Harper balanced the budget this year. It was the first time since 2008.
Correction: Kenny Chiu's campaign office, located on Park Road, was incorrectly reported on Aug.28 as being outside the Steveston-Richmond East boundary, when, in fact, it is within it.
The border between Richmond’s two ridings runs from the West Dyke along Steveston Highway, north along No. 3 Road, east on Westminster Highway, north along No. 4 Road, east on Cambie Road and then along Highway 99.
