--- title: "Advance Richmond on governance | Richmond 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform/governance" last_updated: "2026-10-31T17:02:47.763Z" meta: description: "Advance Richmond's mission statement says \"major decisions change with residents, not without them\". Its candidates promised to use every lawful municipal..." "og:description": "Advance Richmond's mission statement says \"major decisions change with residents, not without them\". Its candidates promised to use every lawful municipal..." "og:title": "Advance Richmond on governance | Richmond 2026" "twitter:description": "Advance Richmond's mission statement says \"major decisions change with residents, not without them\". Its candidates promised to use every lawful municipal..." "twitter:title": "Advance Richmond on governance | Richmond 2026" --- Advance Richmond · Richmond 2026 # Use the City's powers against drug use sites, meet residents monthly, and push senior governments for a new bridge and City-employed doctors Advance Richmond's mission statement says "major decisions change with residents, not without them". Its candidates promised to use every lawful municipal power against supervised consumption sites, monthly meetings between councillors and residents, a one-stop hub for business licences and permits, a new bridge between Richmond and Burnaby paid for with senior governments, and family doctors hired by the City on the Colwood model. [Compare all parties on this ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/governance) [All four issues](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform) [**6**Candidates](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/candidates) [**4/4**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform) [**31**Sources on file](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/money) **10**Questions answered HOW THE CITY IS GOVERNED ## Advance Richmond on governance The organization's home page says its mission is that "major decisions change with residents, not without them". Its About page says that in early 2024 more than 120 residents registered to speak against a supervised consumption site and council still voted to approve a study motion. Richmond News reported on February 5, 2024 that eight of nine councillors voted to explore a site at the hospital grounds, and that Sheldon Starrett held a press conference against it that morning with former MP Kenny Chiu. After the vote, Starrett told Richmond News that his first item will be to rescind that 2024 motion, and that he wants the City to work with Vancouver Coastal Health on a secure detox and treatment centre and to write a homelessness policy. Gary Law told the same paper he wants regular meetings between the mayor, a councillor, the officer in charge of Richmond RCMP and citizen representatives. Posts of October 15, 2026 promise to push Ottawa and Victoria for a new bridge linking Burnaby and Richmond, with the City paying "its fair share", and to follow what the organization calls the Colwood model, where a city hires family doctors as employees paid from provincial patient-care payments. voche.me has not checked how Colwood's program works. Gary Law's statement to the City names transparent governance and decisions guided by current data. Dean Billings' statement, for the school board, makes the same point for that body. 7 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS ## What they say they will do - ### Use every lawful municipal power against supervised consumption sites Kevin Lai's statement to the City promises to use every lawful municipal power to oppose supervised consumption sites. Sheldon Starrett told Richmond News on October 18, 2026 that his first agenda item is to rescind the 2024 council motion on a consumption site at Richmond Hospital. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=85) [Richmond News](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027) - ### Monthly meetings between councillors and residents Grace Tsang's statement to the City promises monthly meetings where councillors meet residents and give City updates. The organization's site promises forums and town halls. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=86) [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/) - ### A one-stop hub for business licences and permits Grace Tsang's statement to the City promises a one-stop municipal hub to streamline business licences and permits. Kevin Lai's page on the organization's site lists "small business and permitting reform" as a priority. [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=86) [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/kevin-lai/) - ### Regular meetings of the mayor, a councillor, Richmond RCMP and citizens on safety Gary Law told Richmond News on October 18, 2026 that regular meetings between the mayor, a city councillor, the officer in charge of Richmond RCMP and citizen representatives are among his short-term goals. [Richmond News](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027) - ### Push senior governments for a new bridge between Richmond and Burnaby A post of October 15, 2026 promises to push Ottawa and Victoria to build a new bridge linking Burnaby and Richmond across the North Arm of the Fraser River, with the City committing to pay its fair share. It gives no cost and no share. [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/) - ### Family doctors hired by the City on the Colwood model A post of October 15, 2026 proposes that the City hire family doctors as employees with a salary, benefits and a pension, funded, it says, by provincial patient-care payments. It calls this the Colwood model. [Advance Richmond Community Association](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/) - ### A secure detox and treatment centre, and a homelessness policy Sheldon Starrett told Richmond News on October 18, 2026 that he wants the City to work with Vancouver Coastal Health on a "secure detox and treatment centre" and to come up with a more comprehensive homelessness policy. His statement to the City lists "end the drug sites" first among his priorities. [Richmond News](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027) [City of Richmond](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=94) ### What is not published - Drug treatment, detox and health care are provincial responsibilities. The organization does not say which of its health promises the City can carry out on its own. - The platform holds no commitment on council procedure, the conduct of members or the size of council. ## Sources A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true. 1. [Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, as of October 30, 2026 ](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/List-of-elector-organizations-by-jurisdiction.pdf)Elections BC · published October 30, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 2. [Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting ](https://elections.bc.ca/local-elections/elector-organizations/)Elections BC · checked October 30, 2026 3. [Financial Reports and Political Contributions System: local elections search ](https://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/LESearch.aspx)Elections BC · checked October 30, 2026 4. [Declaration of Election by Voting, September 21, 2026 ](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Declaration_of_Election_by_Voting_-_September_21__202679778.pdf)City of Richmond · published September 21, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 5. [Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026 ](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2026_declaration_of_official_result79945.pdf)City of Richmond · published October 21, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 6. [Candidate profile: Kevin Lai, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=85)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 7. [Candidate profile: Grace Tsang, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=86)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 8. [Candidate profile: Sheldon Starrett, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=94)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 9. [Candidate profile: Rod Belleza, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=101)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 10. [Candidate profile: Dean Billings, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=98)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 11. [Candidate profile: Danny Chang, statement to the City ](https://richmond.ca/electionservices/candidates/CandidateProfile.aspx?ID=103)City of Richmond · checked October 30, 2026 12. [Advance Richmond: home page and values ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 13. [Advance Richmond: About ARCA ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/about/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 14. [Advance Richmond: 2026 Richmond Election Candidates ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/election-2026/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 15. [Advance Richmond: Latest News and community updates ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 16. [Advance Richmond Congratulates Six Team Members Following the 2026 Richmond Election ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/latest-news/richmond-2026-election-results/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 17. [Advance Richmond: Kevin Lai ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/kevin-lai/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 18. [Advance Richmond: Gary Law ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/gary-law/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 19. [Advance Richmond: Sheldon Starrett ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/sheldon-starrett/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 20. [Advance Richmond: Rod Belleza ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/rod-belleza/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 21. [Advance Richmond: Dean Billings ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/dean-billings/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 22. [Advance Richmond: Danny Chang ](https://www.advancerichmond.com/team/danny-chang/)SAYS SO ITSELFAdvance Richmond Community Association · checked October 30, 2026 23. [Advance Richmond adds four more candidates to slate ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/advance-richmond-adds-four-more-candidates-to-slate-12760189)Richmond News · published September 9, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 24. [Richmond election 2026: A complete list of local candidates ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/heres-who-running-in-richmond-come-election-time-in-october-12771026)Richmond News · published September 11, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 25. [Richmond Votes: Newly formed slate Advance Richmond elects three councillors ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-news/richmond-votes-advance-richmond-elects-three-councillors-12907463)Richmond News · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 26. [Richmond Votes: Five fresh faces on Richmond city council ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-four-fresh-faces-on-richmond-council-12908027)Richmond News · published October 18, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 27. [Richmond Votes: Municipal election turnout rises by 15K in 2026 ](https://www.richmond-news.com/2026-civic-election/richmond-bc-votes-municipal-election-turnout-rises-by-15k-in-2026-12911501)Richmond News · published October 19, 2026 · checked October 30, 2026 28. [Richmond council votes 8-1 to explore safe drug consumption site ](https://www.richmond-news.com/local-opioid-crisis-news/richmond-council-votes-8-1-to-explore-safe-drug-consumption-site-8214640)Richmond News · published February 5, 2024 · checked October 30, 2026 29. [Scores rally against supportive housing, B.C. drug policy in Richmond ](https://globalnews.ca/news/11022267/richmond-rally-drug-housing/)Global News · published February 17, 2025 · checked October 30, 2026 30. [Richmond election results in minimal change ](https://www.richmondsentinel.ca/article-detail/27708/richmond-election-results-in-minimal-change)Richmond Sentinel · published October 15, 2022 · checked October 30, 2026 31. [VoteMate: Advance Richmond, 2026 BC Local Elections ](https://en.votemate.org/bc2026/parties/305)VoteMate · checked October 30, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/richmond-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.