 Print
"The only Chinese candidate"s opponent in this byelection is the NDP Leader Jagmeet "Singh of Indian descent!”
1-16-2019
The Prime Minister announced a byelection in the Burnaby South riding on Wednesday January 9th. The riding was previously held by former NDP MP Kennedy Stewart who vacated the seat after a successful mayoral bid for the City of Vancouver.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was first to announce on Aug. 8, 2018 that he will run in the byelection in the riding of Burnaby South.
The ridings liberal candidate Karen Wang, a daycare operator, became the subject of controversy on Tuesday night after she posted a message on the social messaging app WeChat that urged voters to support her as the only candidate of Chinese origin.
That message, first reported by the Toronto Star, was translated as reading, “If we can increase the voting rate, as the only Chinese candidate in this riding, if I can garner 16,000 votes I will easily win the byelection, control the election race and make history! My opponent in this byelection is the NDP candidate Singh of Indian descent!”
Wang has now apologized for her comments and announced her decision to step aside.
“I’ve been proud to call Burnaby South my home since I arrived in Canada as a newcomer twenty years ago. The diverse character of this community is a real source of strength, and diversity enriches all of us as Canadians,” she wrote in the statement.
“In trying to speak about my own story and the importance of people of all different backgrounds getting involved in this important by-election, I made comments online that also referenced Jagmeet Singh’s cultural background. My choice of words wasn’t well-considered and didn’t reflect my intent, and for that, I sincerely apologize to Mr. Singh. I have deep respect for him as the leader of his party and for his public service – and I would never want to diminish that in any way.”
“After consideration with my supporters, I have decided to step aside as the Liberal candidate in the Burnaby South by-election,” she wrote.
“I believe in the progress that Justin Trudeau and the Liberal team are making for British Columbians and all Canadians, and I do not wish for any of my comments to be a distraction in that work.”
Liberal Party of Canada said her comments did not fit the values of the party.
“Recent online comments by Karen Wang are not aligned with the values of the Liberal Party of Canada. The Liberal Party has accepted her resignation as the Liberal candidate in the Burnaby South by-election,” Braeden Caley, senior director of communications.
“Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada have always stood for the full and equal participation of all Canadians in our democracy, regardless of their background. The Liberal Party has a clear commitment to positive politics and support for Canadian diversity, and the same is always expected of our candidates.”
Jagmeet Singh said, “I intend to represent everyone, whether their background is Korean, Sri Lankan, Chinese, European, Japanese, South Asian, Vietnamese, African or Indigenous – anyone who calls Burnaby South their home,” he said.
“People here expect no less.”
The byelection is scheduled for Feb. 25,2019.
This is not the first time candidates have approached voters with an appeal using the race card.
Back in 2008 another Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan candidate for Vancouver Kingsway riding put an ad which appeared in Sing Tao describes Yuan as a successful entrepreneur who will cut taxes and who speaks Chinese. Don Davies was described as having a union background who will increase taxes and who doesn't speak Chinese.
The ad firther stated "Please unite on 10/14 and cast a vote for our Chinese community candidate, Wendy Yuan."
Yuan's campaign however denied taking responsibility for the ad and insisted it was bought by a third party.
"….let us be very clear that this was a 3rd Party Ad and it was not published by the Wendy Yuan campaign. We did not authorize it and had no prior knowledge of it."
Daniel Louie, a pastor at nearby Urban Village Church was not happy with Wang’s comments.
He said, “I’m Chinese-Canadian; it makes us look bad. It strikes at these racial biases and ideologies that are very divisive.”
“But for (Wang) to go in the other direction and say you should not vote for a candidate because of their ethnic descent, strikes against the whole idea of what Canadian society is trying to achieve.”
“We want to celebrate the diversity and representation,” he said in an interview.
Other residents also took to twitter to raise their concerns.
Kristyn Wong-Tam on her twitter handle stated, “I'm disappointed to see Karen Wang, a candidate in Burnaby South, exploit the issue of race to dismiss Jagmeet Singh by casting him as the "other." This is dishonourable and should stop. She needs to run on her accomplishments and platform. Full stop.”
Footnotes:
|