The battle over the Burnaby-Deer Lake riding, at least with the province’s two major parties, has rounded into shape.
On Wednesday, the Liberals announced Karen Wang as the candidate for the riding. She will now take on current city councillor and NDP candidate Anne Kang in the May 2017 election.
Wang, a business woman and mother of two who moved from mainland China 17 years ago, said she decided to enter politics as a way to give back to the community.
“I want to be the bridge between my community and the government,” she told the NOW, noting it was her fist media interview as a political hopeful. “Bringing the people’s voice to the government and helping the community and helping the people.”
The 41-year-old suggested the number 1 issue in the upcoming election will be the economy, adding the Liberals is the only party that understands the importance of a strong economy for creating good jobs to support families.
Wang also argued with a strong economy, the province will have more money and be able to invest in other areas like education and health care.
According to her bio, Wang operates three daycare centres in Burnaby and is involved with a number of not-for-profit organizations that support children, business and the arts.
While she may be new to politics, she’s confident she’ll be the victor on election night.
Wang said she understands what the majority of people are thinking about in the community, adding the government needs to make sure there is a strong economy and people have jobs.
“I still believe a strong economy will secure our future,” she said.
As for her opponent, Kang was acclaimed as the NDP’s candidate shortly after MLA Kathy Corrigan announced she was retiring from politics at the end of her term.
Though the NDP has held the riding since it was formed for the 2009 election, no more than five per cent, or fewer than 1,000 votes have separated the two parties.
With Wang in the mix, the Liberals now have two of their four candidates in Burnaby in place.
MLA Richard Lee will defend his long-held riding Burnaby North riding.
The party said the search for candidates in the two remaining ridings, Burnaby-Lougheed and Burnaby Edmonds, is still underway.
Randy Rinaldo was named the candidate for Burnaby-Lougheed earlier this year, but after a series of his “insensitive” tweets from 2012 resurfaced, the B.C. Liberal candidate announced he wouldn’t be running in the 2017 provincial election.
