Where every party stands on governance
5 of the 6 parties on the October 17 ballot have published something on how the city is governed. Here they are side by side, each with its source.
BEFORE YOU COMPARE
Who actually decides this
Section 116 of the Community Charter makes the mayor the head and chief executive officer of the municipality. Section 115 sets the duties every council member shares.
Read the commitments below against that. Where a party proposes something the city cannot do on its own, the commitment carries a line naming who holds the power. That is not a criticism of the promise. A council can lobby, fund and argue, and saying so plainly is more useful than pretending the limit does not exist.
WHAT THE COMPARISON SHOWS
Reading this ballot on governance
5 of the 6 parties have published something here, and between them they have made 26 separate commitments. Advance Richmond has published the most, with 7.
Not one of these commitments carries a dollar figure, a count or a percentage. They set a direction, which means there is nothing here to check against a budget later.
SIDE BY SIDE
Every published position on governance
| Party | Published position | Commitments |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Richmond | 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. | 7 |
| Common Sense | The second pillar promises a one-stop City Hall service system managed by caseworkers and a councillor duty-shift roster so residents always know whom to call. The first pillar promises three new global partner cities to make Richmond an international business hub. The fourth pillar promises drug prevention and recovery programs. | 5 |
| Richmond Forward | Richmond Forward's safety pillar promises to ban supervised injection sites in Richmond, a "See Something? Say Something!" campaign, a stronger Block Watch program, support for the RCMP's D.A.R.E. program, and a safety audit 800 metres around schools. Its home page promises transparent, structured community advisory panels to shape policy and major City initiatives. Howard told the Richmond News public safety will be his first priority. | 5 |
| RITE Richmond | RITE Richmond's home page promises "access to democracy through open government" and collaboration with the Province and Ottawa. Its platform promises to pressure the BC government on housing, health care, long-term care and the drug crisis, and to work with all members of Council. Its constitution commits it to publishing its contribution lists before election day, and its Ethics page says each elected member votes as they see fit. | 5 |
| Richmond United | Hobbs's statement to the City lists transparency, accessibility and accountability at City Hall among his aims. In the Richmond News questionnaire he said yes to more public consultations before major infrastructure decisions and to continuing the City's appeal of the Cowichan Tribes ruling. At the council debate, Gill said the City should make it easier to get permits for community events. | 4 |
| Richmond Education Party | Nothing published. Checked October 30, 2026. | — |
ADVANCE RICHMOND
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.
- Use every lawful municipal power against supervised consumption sites
- Monthly meetings between councillors and residents
- A one-stop hub for business licences and permits
- Regular meetings of the mayor, a councillor, Richmond RCMP and citizens on safety
COMMON SENSE
A one-stop City Hall run by caseworkers, a councillor on duty every day, and three new global partner cities
The second pillar promises a one-stop City Hall service system managed by caseworkers and a councillor duty-shift roster so residents always know whom to call. The first pillar promises three new global partner cities to make Richmond an international business hub. The fourth pillar promises drug prevention and recovery programs.
- A one-stop City Hall service system managed by caseworkers
- A councillor duty-shift roster
- Three new global partner cities
- Drug prevention and recovery programs
RICHMOND FORWARD
A ban on supervised injection sites, community advisory panels, and a safety audit around every school
Richmond Forward's safety pillar promises to ban supervised injection sites in Richmond, a "See Something? Say Something!" campaign, a stronger Block Watch program, support for the RCMP's D.A.R.E. program, and a safety audit 800 metres around schools. Its home page promises transparent, structured community advisory panels to shape policy and major City initiatives. Howard told the Richmond News public safety will be his first priority.
- Ban supervised injection sites in Richmond
- Community advisory panels on policy and major initiatives
- A safety audit 800 metres around schools
- A stronger Block Watch program and a "See Something? Say Something!" campaign
RITE RICHMOND
Open government, free votes for each member, donor lists before voting day, and pressure on the Province
RITE Richmond's home page promises "access to democracy through open government" and collaboration with the Province and Ottawa. Its platform promises to pressure the BC government on housing, health care, long-term care and the drug crisis, and to work with all members of Council. Its constitution commits it to publishing its contribution lists before election day, and its Ethics page says each elected member votes as they see fit.
- Press the Province on housing, health care, long-term care and the drug crisis
- More public consultation before major infrastructure decisions
- Publish contribution lists before election day
- Each elected member votes as they see fit
RICHMOND UNITED
More public consultation before major decisions, and easier permits for community events
Hobbs's statement to the City lists transparency, accessibility and accountability at City Hall among his aims. In the Richmond News questionnaire he said yes to more public consultations before major infrastructure decisions and to continuing the City's appeal of the Cowichan Tribes ruling. At the council debate, Gill said the City should make it easier to get permits for community events.
- More public consultation before major infrastructure decisions
- Easier permits for community events
- Case-by-case review of environmentally sensitive areas on private land
- Continue the City's appeal of the Cowichan Tribes ruling
NOTHING PUBLISHED YET
1 party has published nothing on this
A blank records that we looked on the date shown and found nothing on the public record. Some parties are not contesting the race that decides this subject, which is a reason to publish nothing on it.
Richmond Education Party
Nothing published on governance. Checked October 30, 2026.