OUR PLATFORM
Richmond will enter a new era following the Oct. 17 election. It is critical that we choose the right leaders to represent our community, and the Richmond Citizens’ Association has a team of five fresh faces who will bring the perspectives of parents, climate activists, union organizers, and business owners to council.
Our team brings together a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, united by one common value: we are Richmondites who love Richmond.
And we believe we are best suited to steer this city through its new era. We will tackle rising costs so that people can afford to start families here, in the city where they grew up, and without having to leave to do so. We want to see our parents and grandparents age in the same city as their family and have access to all the services they need.
We want to strengthen and build the sense of community that makes Richmond such an amazing place to live.
This is how we do it.
We’re Richmondites who love
AFFORDABLE HOMES
For too long, City Council has ignored the real needs of real Richmondites when approving new housing. We want to work with developers, the province, non‑profits, and anyone else willing to help build the affordable homes that Richmondites truly need.
Our RCA team is going to do what the people of Richmond need instead.
Richmond Citizens’ Association councillors will:
Develop a city‑owned land bank that uses public land to address our housing and community needs.
Neighbourhoods near schools with declining enrolment would see affordable, family‑oriented housing built. Areas lacking community amenities would see new community centres or art spaces developed. Each land‑bank site would be used to meet the needs of surrounding neighbourhoods, improving our city as a whole. Over time, this land bank would generate profits for the city while continuing to meet the needs of the community.
Increase incentives for co-operative housing and encourage higher levels of government to re‑engage in building it.
Co‑ops are one of the best places to call home and are easily accessible for new families entering the housing market.
Cut red tape that causes months or even years of delays in new housing projects and drives up costs, while preserving core values of building safety and neighbourhood impact. Bureaucracy should never be a barrier to creating new, affordable homes.
We’re Richmondites who love
TRANSIT
If transit in Richmond were faster and more reliable, we’d see less traffic and more people riding the bus. But nobody wants to wait 30 minutes for a bus and then walk a long distance to reach their destination.
The SkyTrain is fantastic for north‑south travel, but transit service connecting the east and west sides of our city is far more limited.
Richmond Citizens’ Association councillors will:
Develop a study to explore expanded transit service from Bridgeport to Steveston. We’ll use every resource at the city’s disposal to determine the best way to connect our community.
Bus service throughout the city offers a cheaper, greener way to travel than driving. By improving transit, more people will be able to take advantage of it.
The ONLY way to make this happen is to elect councillors who will advocate for it. Our team will begin working with TransLink from the day they’re sworn in to ensure Richmond gets better transit service.
We’re Richmondites who love
SAFE COMMUNITIES
With a unique history of fishing and farming, and as an island between two arms of the Fraser River with plenty of green space, Richmond has always benefited from nature. We must preserve our environment - and prepare for climate disasters.
Harold Steves, the father of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in B.C., has long influenced the RCA as our most recent councillor. We will continue his fight to defend Richmond’s farmland and support our farmers.
Richmond needs an up‑to‑date environmental strategic plan outlining how we’ll protect trees, preserve waterways, and reduce our carbon footprint. An RCA‑led council will never allow an AI data centre to compromise our city’s water or air quality.
But protecting Richmond also means keeping people safe. Slogans and fear‑mongering will not solve our crime problem. A plan will. And our RCA team will take action to improve safety and quality of life for everyone.
Richmond Citizens’ Association councillors will:
Regularly meet with Richmond Fire‑Rescue, the RCMP, and paramedics to address any concerns raised by first responders as soon as they arise.
Work with the fire department, airport, province, Metro Vancouver, and other partners to create a made‑in‑Richmond emergency management plan.
During periods of severe cold, extreme heat, or wildfire smoke, our RCA team will ensure seniors and other vulnerable residents have safe places to go when they cannot stay at home.
Start a community policing program where volunteers help keep the community safe by working closely with the RCMP, the bylaws department, and local non‑profit service providers.
Work closely with service providers to coordinate resources so that unhoused people and those experiencing addiction can receive the help and care they need, when they need it.
Keep housing for low‑income residents open to reduce encampments in public spaces and street disorder.
Work with the RCMP and local business owners to provide consultations on reducing crime risk at small businesses.
We’re Richmondites who love
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
No parent wants to sit on a website constantly refreshing a page just for a chance to get their kids into swim lessons. No senior wants to walk home down a dark street without lights or a sidewalk. No child wants to play on a playground with exposed screws sticking out.
Our RCA team is committed to strengthening Richmond’s connection to nature, enhancing public spaces, and ensuring every resident can enjoy a cleaner, greener, and more accessible city.
And healthcare can be hard to find. Small problems can grow into big ones if left untreated because of how hard it is to see a doctor. While healthcare is a provincial responsibility, it’s one that the city can help address.
This is all the responsibility of the city, and they’re all issues the RCA will address.
Richmond Citizens’ Association councillors will:
End the “swim lesson lottery” that currently exists. We’ll train more lifeguards, creating jobs and expanding capacity for city‑run swim lessons.
Partner with the school district to offer a swim program during the school day, increasing access for all students.
We’ll fix, update, and expand neighbourhood playgrounds so kids can have fun and stay safe. We’ll also make it easy to report problems at playgrounds, such as loose screws or nails sticking out of wooden structures, so the city can quickly address them.
Work with local sports organizations to remove barriers for kids who want to play hockey, soccer, rugby or any other sport. Whether that’s a city-led gear swap or subsidizing sport registration.
Create an urban orchard of fruit trees on city property alongside a community produce market, giving Richmondites an affordable alternative to rising produce costs.
Boost Richmond’s tree canopy by expanding access to city tree sales, giving residents an affordable and accessible way to plant trees at home.
Ensure that every park in Richmond has a clean, accessible public washroom.
Explore city‑run primary care clinics where doctors can focus on practicing medicine rather than managing a business on top of caring for patients.
Work with Vancouver Coastal Health to expand urgent and primary care access across more areas of the city.
Support local mental health services like Foundry so more residents can access the help they need by working with the province for funding, and providing city land for organizations like Foundry.
We’re Richmondites who love
HEARING FROM OUR NEIGHBOURS
At every door we knock on during this campaign, our candidates ask about the issues that matter to you. Because the only reason they’re running is to bring the voices of real Richmondites to City Hall.
An RCA‑led council will always listen to the citizens of Richmond with one goal in mind: doing what is right for Richmond.
Richmond Citizens’ Association councillors will:
Create three additional municipal committees to study and find solutions to some of the most important issues in Richmond.
A Housing Committee will explore new and innovative ways to combat the housing crisis.
A Poverty Reduction Committee will identify services the city can provide to help residents living paycheque to paycheque, those struggling to feed their families, or those without a home.
A Mental Health Advisory Committee will find ways the city can support residents in need of mental health or addiction services, helping them access treatment and keeping them, and those around them, safe.
Hold bi‑annual council meetings in Hamilton and Burkeville to ensure all residents can have their voice heard by council.
Shorten permit timelines and make the process more transparent for residents starting their new local business.
Open up spaces for innovation and start-up projects that benefit the community giving businesses room and equipment to grow our economy.
Prioritize mixed commercial-residential zoning to create more spaces for businesses to operate within the city.
Help Richmond youth find jobs that can support the community, like working as lifeguards, planting trees that increase our canopy, or supporting local businesses.
WE'RE RICHMONDITES WHO LOVE RICHMOND
WE'RE RICHMONDITES WHO LOVE RICHMOND
There’s so much that makes Richmond great. There are so many important things our candidates are excited to work on, like maintaining our dykes, keeping our sewers in working order and filling potholes quickly.
This list of priorities is by no means exhaustive, but it reflects what’s been top of mind for the people we’ve spoken with so far.
On October 17, vote for five people who live in Richmond, who love Richmond, and who want to serve Richmond.
Alton Cheung, Vincent Li, Keefer Pelech, Tamás Revóczi and Milly Yee are all Richmondites who love Richmond.
