Candidates from at least two political parties are reaching out to Richmond’s Chinese-speaking community this long weekend via live-streamed interviews to discuss issues of particular relevance to that community.
The interview, hosted by a Richmond-based group, Chinese Canadians Go to Vote (CCGTV), has invited People’s Party of Canada (PPC) Leader Maxime Bernier and Josh Vander Vies, Liberal Candidate for Vancouver East, to introduce their election platforms and answer a series of questions from audience members, regarding issues such as anti-Asian racism.
Richmondite Ivan Pak, who ran in Richmond Centre under the PPC banner in the last federal election and was one of the founders of CCGTV. However, he stressed his group isn’t endorsing any particular party or candidate in this upcoming election.
Rather, he said he hopes this event will raise awareness among the Chinese-Canadian community that voting is their right and their responsibility.
“Canada needs everyone’s contribution; our future depends on us,” added Pak.
Pak explained that his group is hoping to do live-streamed interviews with candidates from all the parties, but is still waiting for confirmation of their availability.
Pak, along with other community members, recently launched the group’s website, CCGTV.org to provide the latest information to help Chinese-speaking audiences learn how democracy works in Canada and introduce different political parties’ election platforms.
Meanwhile, Pak said they also launched a campaign -- “10 votes are better than one” -- to ask Chinese Canadians and permanent residences to encourage their friends and relatives to also get out to vote on Sept. 20.
“The purpose of this activity is to mobilize and motivate all Chinese Canadians to vote in this election,” added Pak.
