Richmond City Council works for land speculators, luxury property developers, and well-connected lobbyists. And though we have seen some benefits, they are lessened by the fact that Richmond residents are being pushed out, and our communities are disappearing.

Richmond Citizens’ Association believes in electing strong leaders who meet the challenges of our modern city, ethical governance that reflects the needs of all community members, and a sustainable Richmond where we all feel welcome.

We are fighting for:

Affordable Housing Options for Richmond Residents

We all love to call Richmond home, but more and more of us are being pushed out due to rising costs of housing. Whether you are a young family trying to raise kids in the city where you grew up, senior renters looking for low-cost and accessible units, or a new teacher searching for housing in the community where you work, many are struggling to find a place to live.

RCA will address the housing crisis by working with developers to create more affordable rental units, providing city land to non-profits for dedicated accessible housing according to need, and zoning for medium density throughout Richmond to ensure that every neighbourhood can thrive.

A Comprehensive Environmental Action Plan

Richmond is a beautiful place to live, but with regional forest fires and smokey seasons, last year’s heat dome, and even “bomb cyclones” – these extreme weather events are becoming our normal and impacting our quality of life. As a low-lying coastal city, Richmond must do everything we can to protect us all from these events, and also reduce our own impact on the environment.

RCA is proposing the development of a comprehensive Environmental Action Plan, including an emergency response plan to protect our most vulnerable citizens during an extreme weather event. 

We need to make sure that all civic infrastructure is built to the highest environmental standards and provide incentives to citizens to lower their energy consumption. We can all benefit from things like more accessible Electric Vehicle infrastructure, heat pump rebates, active transportation, and improved transit infrastructure.

Local Business, Civic Infrastructure, and Community Safety

Community is created by the time we spend together and the spaces we share. Richmond is a fortunate city where we have an abundance of park spaces, community and recreational facilities, and thriving business centers. We will expand and protect these places that make Richmond a beautiful community for families, individuals, and visitors.

RCA believes in creating more community services and programs that are tailored to the needs of each distinct neighbourhood, from Terra Nova to Hamilton. We will also make sure that housing and community services exist to support our most vulnerable populations, and that amenities are accessible for all. 

We will work with the business community to promote local shopping destinations for all to enjoy. Whether you are a resident walking to your local coffee shop, or a tourist who is using accessible transit to visit historic Steveston or sampling the many delicious dishes on Alexandra Road, RCA will help Richmond grow as a city that benefits everyone who lives, works, and visits here. 

Building Public Trust Through Improved Transparency

City Hall plays a huge role in the day-to-day lives of Richmond residents, but more and more people are feeling disconnected from their local government. but municipal voter turnout/civic participation is lower than it could be.

RCA will create opportunities for community engagement, provide more language translations of city communications, and ensure that voting records of our elected representatives are easy to find. RCA Councillors will also connect with vulnerable and disenfranchised residents, ensure that marginalized communities are represented, and listen to concerns of all residents, even where we may not agree.