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Mayoral candidates back Vancouver’s diversity

Chinatown forum discussed immigration and transparency
success debate
The forum's strict format prevented heated debate, but rival mayoral candidates had the chance to share what they would do differently from Gregor Robertson. Photo Dan Toulgoet

Mayoral candidates were questioned how they would serve Vancouver’s multicultural communities during a forum hosted by multicultural service organization SUCCESS.

About 150 attended the forum in Chinatown, counted SUCCESS. Cantonese and Mandarin speakers were provided with headsets that offered live translation.

Most of the crowd were of Chinese ethnicity and COPE mayoral candidate Meena Wong seized the opportunity to highlight her fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin by greeting them in both languages. Vision Vancouver incumbent candidate Gregor Robertson also made the effort to introduce himself in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

A panel composed of Chinese media presented results from an Insights West survey regarding ethnic discrimination in the workplace and asked how candidates would combat the issue.

“We have to be relentless about producing more inclusion,” said Robertson, who stressed that hiring practices needed to be more diverse.

Wong related to the struggles of immigrants as she came to Canada from Hong Kong when she was 19. She said employment policies had to tackle the issue of immigrant professionals who arrive in Canada to find that their credentials are not recognized.

NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe shared his past experience launching a diversity initiative during his time at CTV. He addressed the panel directly and said that the city’s lack of immediate releases in Chinese to Chinese media had to be a top priority.

Also in attendance were independents Mike Hansen, Bob Kasting and Tim Ly, making the total number of mayoral candidates present at the forum six out of the 10 running.

Rival candidates had the chance to voice what they would do differently from Robertson. A common theme was listening to residents.

“Neighbourhood after neighbourhood in this city is angry,” said LaPointe. “The relationship with developers is too cozy. Neighbourhood consultation has ended, it’s not genuine.”

Wong criticized city spending on the expansion of bike lanes in Kitsilano.

“If you want to put the bike lane in there, you got to consult the community first,” said Wong.

Kasting stated housing as his top issue. Regarding developments, he said the “neighbourhood has to decide where they are.”

Robertson received the most cheers from those in attendance, especially when he mentioned the increase of “green” jobs and a growing tech industry.

Time limitations and predetermined speaking turns restricted heated debates, but a few jabs were exchanged.

Robertson and LaPointe both claimed to be the right mayor to oversee the development of the proposed Broadway SkyTrain extension. He attacked LaPointe for living outside of Vancouver and not knowing the correct station where the extension would begin.

Robertson said the line is “essential to our city’s future” and that he has worked well with other B.C. mayors on expansion strategies in preparation for next spring’s transit referendum.

LaPointe’s major challenge came in the direction of transparency as he promoted building the most open government in Canada. He announced that the NPA would be revealing its list of campaign donors by Nov. 7 and challenged all parties, especially Vision, to do the same.

Following the forum, Robertson told the Courier that Vision would release its donors list by this weekend.

The election is Nov. 15.

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