Re-elected to Burnaby City Council on October 17, 2026, the only NEW Burnaby candidate elected. A councillor since 2022 and the BC Liberal MLA for Burnaby North from 2001 to 2017, he promised a 0% property tax increase in the first budget and a ban on illicit drug use in publicly funded spaces.
Richard T. Lee was re-elected to Burnaby City Council on October 17, 2026, with 13,257 votes in the City of Burnaby's count, the seventh-highest total for the eight seats. He ran with NEW Burnaby, and he was its only candidate elected. He was first elected to council in 2022 with One Burnaby. Before that he was the MLA for Burnaby North from 2001 to 2017, and the Legislative Assembly's record of March 2017 lists him as Deputy Speaker. On VoteMate he promised a 0% property tax increase in the first budget, increases within inflation after that, a ban on illicit drug use in publicly funded spaces, and more high-tech companies for local jobs.
Researched by voche.me · Not a campaign-authored page
Tracked since October 18, 2026. Every change of status links to the vote, motion or report behind it.
On his VoteMate page Lee promised a 0% property tax increase in the first budget. NEW Burnaby's platform makes the same promise under "Only an NBP majority will", and its About page calls it a full freeze.
“0% increase in property tax in the first budget”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local Elections (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
On his VoteMate page Lee promised to keep property tax increases within the consumer price index in the three years after the first budget. NEW Burnaby's platform promises increases no higher than inflation over four years, under "Only an NBP majority will".
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local Elections (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
On his VoteMate page Lee promised to ban illicit drug use in publicly funded spaces. NEW Burnaby's platform promises to ban illicit drug use in public spaces and in all government-funded housing, under "Only an NBP majority will".
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local Elections (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
On his VoteMate page Lee promised to attract new technology companies to open in Burnaby and create more local jobs. NEW Burnaby's platform, under "Only an NBP majority will", promises to grow City revenue by attracting more businesses and to give permits to businesses that create jobs and to high-tech businesses.
“Attract innovative and high-tech companies to open business in Burnaby to create more local jobs.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local Elections (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
On his VoteMate page, as a reason for running, Lee wrote that he would adopt modern technology to improve services. NEW Burnaby's platform promises to make City operations more efficient with new technologies, under "Only an NBP majority will".
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local Elections (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Public Safety, promises to continue the work of reducing or ending preventable traffic deaths in Burnaby. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Public Safety, promises to support the use of modern technology to place police resources where they are needed. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Public Safety, promises to push for medical treatment and recovery for people with problem drug use, in well-managed facilities that the neighbourhood approves. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Affordability and Taxes, promises to make careful spending of public money a guiding principle for all City Hall operations. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's About page promises a line-by-line audit of how the City spends tax money, with no new tax increase until the audit shows where the money goes. The About page states it without the platform's condition of a majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Opportunity, promises to make zoning more flexible so that more local businesses can open. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Opportunity, promises to fast-track City permits, so that no daycare, renovation or small business waits months for an answer. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Opportunity, promises to reduce renewal fees for business licences. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Opportunity, promises to speak up for small businesses when bodies outside Burnaby make decisions that affect whether they can survive. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Transportation & Transit, promises to cut the time drivers wait at red lights by using sensors at traffic lights. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Transportation & Transit, promises to create more temporary stopping zones for picking up and dropping off people, and for deliveries, so that vehicles do not block traffic. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Transportation & Transit, promises to improve where bus stops are placed. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Transportation & Transit, promises to consult residents and businesses so that street parking, transit stops and business parking meet local needs. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Parks, promises to work to keep every park in Burnaby safe, well maintained and accessible to every resident. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Parks, promises to oppose any reduction in the size of an existing park or green space, such as Burnaby Foreshore Park, as the platform names it. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Parks, promises to expand parks to take in green spaces next to them that can be used as park. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Parks, promises to make sure that every Burnaby resident has a local park within a five-minute walk. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Parks, promises to support keeping Burnaby's overall tree cover and plant more trees in Burnaby parks. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Clean Streets and Beautiful Neighbourhoods, promises to create programs that encourage property owners to clean up graffiti. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's platform, under Burnaby Hospital Phase #2, promises to demand that the Province give a start date and the funding for Burnaby Hospital Phase 2, and build the hospital as designed. The platform lists it under the words "Only an NBP majority will", so it made the promise conditional on a NEW Burnaby majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · Our Platform (opens in a new tab), NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's About page promises housing that fits the scale and character of each neighbourhood. The About page states it without the platform's condition of a majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's About page promises that sewer, water and other infrastructure is paid for before more homes are added to an area. The About page states it without the platform's condition of a majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
NEW Burnaby's About page promises real consultation with residents before land is rezoned. The About page states it without the platform's condition of a majority; NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: NEW Burnaby · About the Campaign (opens in a new tab).
Richard T. Lee was re-elected to Burnaby City Council on October 17, 2026. The City of Burnaby's count gives him 13,257 votes, the seventh-highest total for the eight seats, and the City's chief election officer declared him elected on October 21, 2026. The City's profile page prints his organization as the New Burnaby Party, which appears on the ballot as NEW Burnaby. Freshet News reported that he is the only council member from outside the Burnaby Citizens Association, and that it could not reach him on election night.
He was first elected to council in October 2022, with 11,231 votes by the City's count. Burnaby Now reported then that he ran with One Burnaby, and the Burnaby Beacon reported in January 2023 that he was its only candidate elected. Freshet News reported in September 2026 that he was running with the New Burnaby Party after being elected with One Burnaby in 2022. Elections BC's register of elector organizations names him as the authorized principal official of the New Burnaby Party.
Global News reported in 2017 that he had held Burnaby North for the BC Liberals since 2001, winning in 2005, 2009 and 2013. The Legislative Assembly's Hansard of March 8, 2017 lists him as the Member for Burnaby North and as Deputy Speaker. CBC News reported in 2019 that he had been an MLA for 16 years when the federal Liberal Party named him its candidate in the Burnaby South byelection. Global News described him as a programmer analyst at TRIUMF, the particle research centre at UBC, before he entered politics.
By his own account, on the City's councillor page and NEW Burnaby's site, he worked at TRIUMF for 22 years, holds a combined honours Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics and a Master of Science in applied mathematics from UBC, and served as a parliamentary secretary for Asia Pacific. voche.me has not checked these with UBC or TRIUMF.
In his first term, the Burnaby Beacon reported that in January 2023 he gave notice of a motion to set the 2023 property tax increase at 0%, and that no other councillor seconded it, so council did not discuss it. Burnaby Now reported that in April 2024 he was one of three councillors, with Pietro Calendino and Sav Dhaliwal, who wanted to delay the creation of the Burnaby Housing Authority by one year. Council voted 6 to 3 to go ahead.
On his VoteMate page he listed four promises: a 0% property tax increase in the first budget and increases within inflation in the next three years, a ban on illicit drug use in publicly funded spaces, and more high-tech companies to create local jobs. NEW Burnaby's platform makes the same tax and drug promises, and it begins each list with the words "Only an NBP majority will". NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
Summarized from the campaign’s published profile. These are stated positions, not an assessment of results or a complete platform.
On VoteMate he promised a 0% property tax increase in the first budget, and increases within inflation in the three years after that.
NEW Burnaby's platform promises the same, under the words "Only an NBP majority will". In January 2023 he gave notice of a motion for a 0% increase in that year's budget, and no other councillor seconded it, the Burnaby Beacon reported.
On VoteMate he promised to ban illicit drug use in publicly funded spaces.
NEW Burnaby's platform promises to ban illicit drug use in public spaces and in all government-funded housing, under the words "Only an NBP majority will".
On VoteMate he promised to attract new technology companies to open in Burnaby and create local jobs.
VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local ElectionsOn VoteMate, as a reason for running, he wrote that he would adopt modern technology to improve services.
VoteMate · Richard T. Lee, New Burnaby for Burnaby Council, 2026 BC Local ElectionsNEW Burnaby's platform has eight areas: public safety, affordability and taxes, opportunity, transportation and transit, parks, clean streets, political independence, and Burnaby Hospital Phase 2. Each list begins with the words "Only an NBP majority will". NEW Burnaby won one of the eight council seats.
Its promises include a 0% property tax increase in the first budget and increases no higher than inflation over four years, a ban on illicit drug use in public spaces and government-funded housing, faster City permits, lower renewal fees for business licences, traffic lights with sensors, a park within a five-minute walk of every resident, and pressure on the Province for a start date and funding for Burnaby Hospital Phase 2. Its About page adds a line-by-line review of City spending and consultation before rezoning.
Researched on 2026-10-29 through the seven search steps listed below: the City's candidate profile, results and declaration, the City's councillor page, NEW Burnaby's platform, About and candidate pages, his VoteMate page, Elections BC's register, the Legislative Assembly's Hansard of March 8, 2017, and reporting by Freshet News, Burnaby Now, the Burnaby Beacon, Global News and CBC News.
His posts on Facebook and X were not read, because Facebook showed only a login page. No campaign site of his own was found; his City profile gives NEW Burnaby's site. Council minutes were not read directly: his first-term council record comes from the named news reports. His years at TRIUMF, his degrees and his parliamentary secretary posts are his own account. No news report of a statement from him after the 2026 vote was found.
Elected in October 2022 with One Burnaby, Burnaby Now reported, and re-elected on October 17, 2026 with NEW Burnaby.
Burnaby Now · Burnaby Citizens Association powers back to win council majority, October 15, 2022 (read from the Internet Archive copy)Global News reported that he held the seat for the BC Liberals from 2001, and CBC News reported that he served as an MLA for 16 years.
Global News · B.C. election 2017: Burnaby North riding, April 16, 2017The Legislative Assembly's Hansard of March 8, 2017 lists him as Deputy Speaker. By his own account he held the office from September 2015 to May 2017.
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · Official Report of Debates (Hansard), March 8, 2017, afternoon sittingGlobal News described him as a programmer analyst at TRIUMF, the particle research centre at UBC, before he entered politics.
Global News · B.C. election 2017: Burnaby North riding, April 16, 2017Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied.
No questions and answers have been supplied.
Ask Richard T. Lee directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one.
Facts voche.me can state about Richard T. Lee's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Richard T. Lee was elected Councillor with 13,257 votes, 7th of 42 in the official count. The City of Burnaby published the count, and every candidate's total is on the results page.
No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Richard T. Lee's own campaign.
Richard T. Lee ran for Councillor with NEW Burnaby.
Yes. Richard T. Lee currently serves as Councillor, City of Burnaby.
This profile lists 18 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Richard T. Lee in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
The 2026 Burnaby municipal election, including the Councillor race, was decided on October 17, 2026.
Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added.
Missing information does not imply a candidate’s position. Read our editorial standards.
Find the candidate’s website, social accounts and contact information.
