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Chak Au

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Chak Au
MP
Au in 2017
Member of Parliament
for Richmond Centre—Marpole
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 28, 2025
Preceded byWilson Miao
Richmond City Councillor
In office
December 5, 2011 – February 1, 2026
Personal details
Born
Hong Kong
PartyConservative
Other political
affiliations
Municipal:
Richmond Independent Team of Electors (2011-2014)
Richmond Community Coalition (2014-2026)
Provincial:
BC NDP (2017)
University of Hong Kong

Chak Kwong Au MP (Chinese: 區澤光, Pinyin: Oū Zé Guāng, Jyutping: au1 zaak6 gwong1) is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of Parliament (MP) representing the riding of Richmond Centre—Marpole since 2025.[1] A member of the Conservative Party, he previously served as a trustee for the Richmond School District from 1999 to 2011,[2] and as a member of the Richmond City Council from 2011 to 2026.[3]

Early life and education

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Born in Hong Kong, Au graduated from the University of Hong Kong and worked for the Hong Kong Government's Social Welfare Department.[4] A family therapist by profession, he also served as a lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.[5][6] He immigrated to Canada in 1988,[4] and worked as a therapist with Vancouver Coastal Health.[7]

Municipal and provincial politics (1999–2026)

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Au was elected to serve on the Richmond School District in 1999,[4][7] becoming the city's first school trustee to be bilingual in English and Chinese.[2][8] He served four terms in that role until the 2011 municipal election, when he pivoted and successfully ran for Richmond City Council as a candidate with the Richmond Independent Team of Electors.[4][9] He switched to the Richmond Community Coalition in July 2014,[10] and was re-elected councillor in that year's municipal election.[11]

In the 2017 provincial election, he ran as a British Columbia New Democratic Party candidate in the riding of Richmond South Centre, but lost to long-time Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly Linda Reid.[12] He stayed on city council, and was re-elected in 2018 and 2022,[7] when he won the highest number of votes of any candidate for council in the at-large election.[13]

In February 2024, Chak Au was outspoken on his opposition to a council motion directing health authorities to conduct a feasibility study of a safe consumption site in Richmond. This motion by Councillors Kash Heed and Laura Gillanders was put forward amidst the ongoing toxic drug crisis, which claimed the lives of 26 Richmondites in 2023.[14] Au argued that the motion's proposal was not an open study as it promised to be, but rather, a directive from council to Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) asking for a consumption site to be built. Au also questioned the effectiveness of safe consumption sites.[15] On 13 February, council voted 7–2 in favour of the motion, with only Au and Councillor Alexa Loo dissenting. The next day, VCH reported that public health data did not support a need for a safe consumption site in Richmond, and that it would not pursue one. Thereafter, Mayor Malcolm Brodie declared the matter closed and council ended discussion on the topic.[16]

Federal politics (2025–present)

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Au was nominated as the Conservative candidate for Richmond Centre—Marpole in March 2025.[17] He was elected as a member of parliament (MP) in the 2025 federal election, defeating incumbent Liberal MP Wilson Miao.[18]

Following his election, Au announced that he would continue serving as a Richmond city councillor until the 2026 municipal election, citing the cost of a by-election and stating that he would donate his council salary to charity.[19] In January 2026, he announced that he would resign from council, stating that friends and family had advised him not to hold both positions simultaneously. He resigned in February 2026 after Richmond City Council voted unanimously not to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy.[20]

During the 45th Parliament, Au served as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.[21]

Electoral history

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2025 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre—Marpole
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeChak Au23,53249.56+14.11$120,676.52
LiberalWilson Miao21,23244.71+6.13$74,065.44
New DemocraticMartin Li2,1094.44–15.94$0.00
GreenMichael Sisler4200.88–2.25$477.30
People'sDavid Wang1930.41–2.05$247.26
Total valid votes/expense limit 47,486100.0 –$127,851.47
Total rejected ballots 3320.69–0.30
Turnout 47,81859.20+12.98
Eligible voters 80,777
Conservative notional gain from Liberal Swing +3.99
Source: Elections Canada[22][23][24]
2017 British Columbia general election: Richmond South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
LiberalLinda Reid6,91448.72$68,363
New DemocraticChak Au5,71640.28$71,475
GreenGreg Powell1,56111.00$379
Total valid votes 14,191100.00–
Total rejected ballots 1711.19
Turnout 14,36246.70
Registered voters 30,753
Source: Elections BC[25][26]

References

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  1. ↑ "Richmond Centre—Marpole live federal election results". Toronto Star. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Chak Au: Reflecting on 25 years of public service, bridging cultures and advocating for the future". Richmond News. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  3. ↑ Rantanen, Maria (January 23, 2026). "Chak Au confirms he'll step down from Richmond City Council". Richmond News. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 區澤光最關注列市醫院重建 社區利益優先 [Chak Au most concerned with Richmond Hospital rebuild, prioritizes community benefits] (in Traditional Chinese). Ming Pao. April 22, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2026 – via University of British Columbia Asian Library.
  5. ↑ 海內外校友組織及網絡消息 [News on worldwide alumni associations and networks] (PDF). Chinese University of Hong Kong Alumni Magazine, September 2025 (in Traditional Chinese). p. 40. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  6. ↑ 人事動態 [Personnel movements] (PDF). Chinese University of Hong Kong School Magazine, Issue 1, 1987 (in Traditional Chinese). p. 19. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Gordon, Florence (April 11, 2025). "Meet the candidates in each Richmond Riding". Richmond Sentinel. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ 【2025聯邦大選】從政26年老將 區澤光竟然最怕聽到這句話... [2025 federal election: After 26 years in politics, Chak Au is the most terrified of hearing this...] (in Traditional Chinese). Sing Tao News. April 10, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ Campbell, Alan (November 19, 2011). "Linda McPhail, Chak Au new faces of Richmond City Council". Richmond News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ Wood, Graeme (July 28, 2014). "Councillors jump ship to Richmond Community Coalition party". Richmond News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  11. ↑ Wood, Graeme (November 14, 2014). "Community activist Carol Day and Olympian Loo win seats on Richmond council". Richmond News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ "B.C. election night in Richmond: Liberals sweep city again in cliffhanger". Richmond News. May 10, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ Hui, Vikki (October 20, 2022). "RCCA's Au tops election polls". Richmond News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Richmond Council approves drug consumption site issue". CBC News. February 14, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  15. ↑ Rantanen, Maria (February 5, 2024). "Majority of Richmond Council back safe-consumption site". Richmond News.
  16. ↑ "Richmond won't seek approval for drug consumption site: Mayor". CBC News. February 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ Rantanen, Maria (March 25, 2025). "Update: Richmond Conservative federal candidates include sitting city councillor". Richmond News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ Leung, Valerie (April 29, 2025). "Canada Votes 2025: Chak Au secures seat in Richmond Centre-Marpole riding". Richmond News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ Abbas, Rana (January 11, 2026). "Holding two elected positions, B.C. Conservative MP Au is the highest paid backbencher in the House". The Hill Times. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ Haws, Emily (January 27, 2026). "MP Chak Au tenders resignation from Richmond, B.C., city council". The Globe and Mail.
  21. ↑ "Profile - Au, Chak". Library of Parliament of Canada. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Forty-fifth General Election 2025: Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Richmond Centre—Marpole Validated Results". Election Night Results. Elections Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ "2017 Provincial General Election Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
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