Incumbent:
Wilson Miao (Liberal | 2021)
Candidates:
Liberal: Wilson Miao
Conservative: Chak Au
New Democratic: Martin Li
Green: Michael Sisler
People’s: David Wang
2021 Results:
Liberal - 39 per cent
Conservative - 35 per cent
New Democratic - 20 per cent
Green - three per cent
People’s - two per cent
One of two ridings in the Lower Mainland to cross the Fraser River, Richmond Centre—Marpole combines the southern tip of the City of Vancouver with the condo towers of Richmond’s city centre, and quieter suburbia to the south and west. A shock gain for the Liberals last time, the Conservatives are chomping at the bit to wrestle it back into their column.
Driving the 2021 Liberal surge here was an upswing of support for the party among Chinese-Canadians, who make up almost 60 per cent of the population here. Real estate agent Wilson Miao managed a stunning upset of four-term Conservative MP Alice Wong here in 2021 thanks to massive gains among affluent Chinese in the condos along the Canada Line and single-family homes in Thompson. To prove he’s not just a one-hit wonder, Miao will be looking to absorb the collapsing NDP vote in the newly added neighbourhood of Marpole and around Seafair.
His main challenger, ironically enough, was briefly a New Democrat. Richmond city Coun. Chak Au is carrying the banner here for the Conservatives, and brings with him decades worth of experience. Starting with a dozen years on the school board, Au made the leap to council in 2011 and has held his seat ever since. In 2017, the famously social conservative politician ran for the BC NDP to challenge Christy Clark’s neglect of Richmond’s acute care tower, though his opinions on the party have soured since its push for drug decriminalization culminated with a fiery protest last year over a safe consumption site in his city. Au’s strong stance on this hot-button issue and his municipal strength will make him a formidable opponent for the Grits.
This and the other Richmond riding will be key bellwethers for how Chinese-Canadians are voting this fall. Last October saw the BC Conservatives sweep the two ridings largely overlapping the federal district as public discontent over decriminalization boiled over, and voters may not be done giving the centre-left a kicking here. If things turn bad for Miao in Richmond, he will be looking across the Fraser River to Marpole to save him.
Hugh Chan is a UBC student specializing in international relations and data science.
