School board trustee Kenny Chiu is throwing his hat into the federal, political ring as a potential candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the new Steveston-Richmond East riding next election, scheduled for Oct. 19, 2015.
Chiu said his platform will be decidedly focused on economic growth.
"We're enjoying peace and prosperity that is not guaranteed. Canada is a strong economic power but that needs to continue," he said.
Chiu said he has followed federal politics for many years and his announcement on Tuesday means he will not seek another term on the school board.
When asked if he supports the Enbridge pipeline, Chiu said: "I support sustainable economic growth. ...And we need to do business with the world."
When asked about his position on abortion, Chiu said: "I think the country can use more debate on the issue. It's a personal conscious decision. Personally, I would never outlaw abortion," he said, adding he supports more programs and support for women considering abortion.
When asked for his opinion on global warming, Chiu said the best term to use is, in fact, "climate change." He said it is his understanding not all parts of the planet are warming.
"The question is, how much is climate change attributed to human activities?" asked Chiu, noting he's a "pragmatic environmentalist."
As it relates to Steveston, Chiu was asked about his opinion on years of cuts to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada. "A lot of the time we commit the fallacy of equating effectiveness with more money. That may not necessarily be the case," he said.
