Election 2008: Liberals hope multi-year visa a vote-grabber

Richmond seen as a key riding in fight for new Canadian votes

The Vancouver Province
September 15, 2008

Ian Austin

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion used a campaign stop in immigrant-rich Richmond to unveil the Welcome Canada Pass, a proposed five-year multiple-entry visitor’s visa that should play well among the riding’s many Asians.

Dion said the pass would apply to to individuals sponsored by Canadian citizens and landed immigrants, with the sponsors accepting financial and personal responsibility for the pass-holders.

Liberal MP Raymond Chan, who hopes to succeed again against Conservative candidate Alice Wong, believes the policy will prove popular in the Richmond riding where more than 12 per cent of the residents have immigrated to Canada in the past 12 years.

“I think it will be popular for a lot of Canadians, not just for the immigrants,” said Chan. “Not only for them, but for those who have business ties with the Asia-Pacific.”

Chan said his office spends much of its time trying to help would-be immigrants and business people who would like to get Canadian visitor’s visas.

“Most of the visitor’s visas are one-time only,” said Chan. “This policy will cut down on the manpower needed by the immigration department, especially for business types.”

The Liberal Party has had enormous success over the years with new immigrants, as policies such as family reunification that welcome waves of immigration prove popular at election time.

Dion’s gambit in Richmond should help in urban and suburban ridings in B.C. and other provinces where close races are often decided by the voting decisions of new Canadians.

Richmond has the largest percentage of visible minorities of any major community in B.C. — well over 50 per cent.

Officials at Wong’s campaign office said she was busy knocking on doors and unavailable for comment.

NDP candidate Dale Jackaman and Green Party candidate Michael Wolfe are considered longshots in the riding.

Richmond is coveted by both the Conservatives and Liberals. Prime Minister Stephen Harper chose Richmond to kick off his election campaign, and the appearance of Dion in the same riding so early in the campaign indicates that both parties see the riding as a potential win.

iaustin@theprovince.com
© The Vancouver Province 2008

Reference: The Vancouver Province