BC Liberals candidate Kim Chan Logan: It's important for Chinese Canadians to vote
Ahead of the BC Election, Daily Hive has been speaking to a few of the candidates running from all three parties to find out what motivates them.
Here, Kim Chan Logan, 46, who is running for the BC Liberals in Vancouver-Kensington, shares her story and political advice for young voters.
Why run for office?
My family is fourth generation Chinese Canadian and instilled upon me, from a very young age, a passion for helping others and supporting my community.
I’ve had a rewarding career and gained a great deal of experience in business, in developing public policy and in advocating for those less fortunate.
I feel this is the time for me to get involved in public life and give back.
I also have a five-year-old son who is entering the public education system this fall, so I want to be part of a government that has a vision to create a strong and stable future for the next generation of British Columbians.
I made the decision to run for public office to be a champion for families and businesses in East Vancouver, where I have very deep roots.
Why this political party?
I’m a big believer in supporting small businesses, free-enterprise and in fiscal responsibility, and the BC Liberals are the only party that is committed to those values.
It’s important to ensure we have a strong economy so that we can continue to invest in health care, education and seniors’ services, so I’m choosing to run for the only party that has a real plan to deliver those services.
How’s your campaign going?
Extremely well. It’s been a tremendous experience to have the opportunity to talk directly to hundreds upon hundreds of residents in Vancouver-Kensington to hear what is important to them.
There’s no question there are a lot of challenges that people are facing, but people I talk to are looking for positive solutions and a party with a plan.
I’m hearing the same thing on the doorsteps every day – people want their taxes to remain low, they want a party that sets the foundation for job creation and they want to ensure we are fiscally responsible so we can provide services not just for today, but for our children tomorrow.
What would you say to young people getting into politics?
Be bold, know what you want to achieve, listen carefully to people in your community and always hold true to your principles.
There are some politicians running today who will say anything to win and that is no way to lead.
You will never get 100% of people to agree with you on anything, which is the very nature of democracy, but it’s important to have a plan and be fully transparent about that plan.
Anything else?
I really want to encourage everyone to get out and vote, especially those in the Chinese community who typically have lower voter turnout than non-Chinese Canadians.
Many people don’t know or don’t remember that in Canada, Chinese Canadians were not granted the right to vote until 1947, when the Canadian Government repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act after signing the UN Charter of Human Rights.
Given the sacrifices that many people made to earn this right, I believe it is important for Chinese Canadians across BC to learn about the choices they have in this provincial election, and exercise that valuable democratic right to vote.
To find more guides to all the issues, interviews with the BC party leaders, and plenty of opinions, check out our full BC Election coverage here: Battleground BC.
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