Chinese-language election ads decry NDP candidate, DTES

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Inflammatory political attack ads in two prominent Vancouver Chinese-language newspapers claim a Richmond NDP candidate would turn the city into Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

In the ads, printed in the Ming Pao and Sing Tao Daily, the “Richmond Community Development Concerns Group” claims that by joining the NDP, Richmond South Centre candidate Chak Au will help bring the issues of the DTES to his riding.

“Vancouver’s East side is a strong hold for the NDP. They promote drug injection sites, unisex bathrooms, early sex education for children and same sex marriage,” the ad says. “Vancouver’s East side is now flooded with drug problem, safety meltdown and a moral collapse! You (Au) are now joining the NDP. Are you sure you want to help (the NDP) to turn Richmond into Vancouver’s East side?!”

Au is currently a Richmond city councillor, and the ad says he has turned on the people who originally supported his election.

The group named in the ad isn’t listed as a registered advertising election sponsor, but Andrew Watson with Elections BC says before the writ drops, that doesn’t matter.

“There are no provisions under the election act that prevent advertising before the writ is issued. There are also no provisions under the election act that regulate the content of election ads,” he says, adding once the writ drops, all election ads must receive the approval of Elections BC.

Neither the Richmond Community Development Concerns Group or Au could be reached for comment.

BC NDP deputy director Glen Sanford says he thinks this is a case of BC Liberal Party supporters attempting to create division.

“It’s not the first time we’ve seen anonymous smears come from Liberal supporters,” he says. “I think this is nasty and cowardly politics.”

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