One in a series of profiles of first-time provincial candidates in the May 9 provincial election.
James Wang has a master’s degree in business administration. He has been a Burnaby councillor since 2014 and was a two-term school board trustee, first elected in 2008. Born in China, he moved to Canada in 1996. His mother has lived in the riding since 2000 and his family owns a travel agency where he used to work.
The following is an excerpt of our conversation.
Q: Why run now for provincial office?
A: I am a very passionate person in the community. I have deep roots in the community. This time, community members approached me to run. They said they need a strong candidate to work for them in the community.
Q: What do you feel can be your unique contribution?
A: For the Chinese communities or the multicultural society, we have a lot of issues. I can be a help for the community, to be a bridge for those people. Education, in my heart, is always the most important. I think we can reduce the gap of our community in our multicultural society.
Q: What are the issues that personally matter to you most?
A: For the community, people want a change. That is the key issue. They’re fed up with 16 years of the Liberal government. But that is political. For me, it’s education. It’s not just investment in education; it’s investment in the future.
Q: What are your apprehensions about running provincially?
A: Municipal and provincial, it’s all the same. You just have to work. I’m someone who works hard in the community. I’m passionate. People like me because I’m always working in the community. I don’t think there is a big difference in serving in a different level of government. It still means you’re still trying to help the people, still working for the people.
Q: What do you want to be your accomplishments?
A: I want to be a bridge of people in the community to Victoria. It’s quite simple. I want to be the voice to the provincial government. I want to be their candidate.
Q: If you were sitting here in four years as the MLA, what would you hope you would have achieved in that time?
A: First of all, that we fix some problems which have already been there: education, a seniors housing crisis. For this we have already a big plan and will work hard to make this a success ... to make life affordable. I don’t know how much we can do, but I will try my best. That’s my big goal in the next four years. •
