RICHMOND – On the first full day of the election campaign, David Eby was in Richmond to share his plan to take action on the things that matter most to people in this city—helping with costs, strengthening health care, and building more middle-class homes. Eby was joined by his Richmond BC NDP team, candidates Kelly Greene, Linda Li, Aman Singh, and Henry Yao, all parents standing up for families in their community.

“The challenges people are facing right now are what keep me up atnd night and get me up in the morning,” said Eby. “Our Richmond team is working hard every day to solve today’s tough problems, and it’s starting to make a difference. John Rustad’s plan for deep cuts to health care would mean firing family doctors and cancelling long-overdue projects, like the Richmond Hospital new acute care tower. The tower was promised by John Rustad’s government and never built. That’s a risk we can’t afford.”

Kelly Greene, BC NDP candidate for Richmond-Steveston, is a strong advocate with deep roots in the community. She said: “This is a great place to live and raise a family, but people in Richmond face big challenges. That’s why we’re taking action to make life better: lowering costs, improving healthcare, taking action on climate, and building more homes for people. We can’t afford to go back to the years when John Rustad and his government cut health care and schools and hiked costs on regular families.” Kelly first got involved in politics after John Rustad’s government made cuts to schools, and she knows his cuts would mean 20% bigger class sizes in communities like Richmond.

Linda Li, BC NDP candidate for Richmond-Bridgeport, is a well-known pillar of the local community, actively involved with the Richmond Chinese Community Society and the Richmond Hospital Foundation. She said: “Families here need a government that is in their corner, working to make life better. That’s why we’re fighting to protect the services people and families count on – unlike John Rustad with his promise to cut over $4 billion from our healthcare.”

Aman Singh, BC NDP candidate for Richmond-Queensborough, is a lawyer and small business owner who made history as the first turban-wearing Sikh to be elected to the BC legislature. He fought for a school bus to transport Queensborough students to New Westminster Secondary School, and delivered that service. He said: “We need to keep building a BC where everyone can build a good life, but John Rustad only wants to help those who already have the most. David Eby and the BC NDP are taking real action to lower costs and look out for regular people – you can count on us to take on the tough challenges and fight for you every single day.”

Henry Yao, BC NDP candidate for Richmond-Centre, is a dedicated community advocate known for his work with Dialogue Richmond and Vancouver Metropolitan Lions Club. He told attendees that: “Richmond is an amazing place to live and raise a family, and there’s so much more we can do to help people thrive here. That’s why our BC NDP team is taking action to ease everyday costs, improve healthcare, increase accessible childcare, take on housing speculators, and build homes people can afford. Our community just can’t risk the healthcare cuts and rising costs promised by John Rustad’s BC Conservatives.”

The candidates encouraged local residents to talk to their friends and family about what is at stake this election. People can volunteer by calling (604) 370-2054 or by visiting https://bcndp.ca/volunteer

Since forming government in July 2017, the BC NDP has taken action on issues that matter to the people of Richmond, including:

• Building more homes you can afford by putting people ahead of speculators and investors and building hundreds more affordable units in Richmond and New Westminster
• Helping people get care when they need it by expanding the Richmond Hospital, building a second urgent and primary care centre in Richmond, and hiring hundreds of new family doctors
• Put money back in your pocket by eliminating MSP premiums, lowering ICBC rates by $500 a year and boosting the BC Family Benefit by $445.
• Keeping communities safe by hiring 250 more police officers, giving police more power to address public drug use, cracking down on repeat violent offenders, and taking on organized crime — including seizing Hells Angels clubhouses and many other proceeds of crime.