Alice Wong

Alice Wong
黃陳小萍
Shadow Minister for Seniors
In office
August 30, 2017 – September 8, 2020
LeaderAndrew Scheer
Erin O'Toole
ShadowingJean-Yves Duclos
Filomena Tassi
Deb Schulte
Preceded byMark Warawa
Succeeded byRosemarie Falk
Shadow Minister for Small Business
In office
November 20, 2015 – August 29, 2017
LeaderRona Ambrose (interim)
Andrew Scheer
ShadowingBardish Chagger
Preceded byBrian Masse
Succeeded byDan Albas
Minister of State for Seniors
In office
May 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
Preceded byJulian Fantino
Succeeded byJean-Yves Duclos (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development)
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Richmond Centre
Richmond (2008–2015)
In office
October 14, 2008 – September 20, 2021
Preceded byRaymond Chan
Succeeded byWilson Miao
Personal details
Born (1948-06-30) June 30, 1948 (age 76)
British Hong Kong
Political partyConservative
Other political
affiliations
Canadian Alliance (until 2003)
SpouseEnoch Wong
ResidenceRichmond, British Columbia
Profession
  • Educator
  • entrepreneur
Websitealicewong.ca
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese黃陳小萍
Simplified Chinese黄陈小萍
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWòhng Chàhn Síu-pìhng
JyutpingWong4 Can4 Siu2 Ping4

Alice Wong Chan Siu-ping PC (traditional Chinese: 黃陳小萍; simplified Chinese: 黄陈小萍; née Chan, born June 30, 1948) is a Canadian politician and a member of the Conservative Party who served as the member of Parliament (MP) for the electoral district of Richmond Centre from 2015 to 2021. She previously served as the MP for the Richmond riding from 2008 to 2015. In 2011, she was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to be Minister of State for Seniors, becoming the first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve in the Cabinet of Canada. She served in that position until 2015.

Early life

Wong immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in 1980. She is a businesswoman and educator. She holds a PhD in Instruction and Curriculum from the University of British Columbia and worked as the manager of international programs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She also has taught ESL and entrepreneurship classes at Vancouver Community College where she founded the Centre for Small Business at VCC, which offered the first bilingual small business management classes for immigrants. Wong has also operated a consulting firm specializing in research and education.

She has served on the boards of various community organizations including the Rotary Club of Richmond, Rosewood Manor in Richmond, Benevolent Relief Seniors Care Society, Ethno Business Council, Chiu Chow Benevolent Association, and the Women's Enterprise Society of BC. She is a guest host on local Chinese and multicultural radio and television. Wong founded the Richmond Greenspace Society to promote green space in urban settings, improving passport office efficiency, raising funds to improve the safety of senior pedestrians, and raising funds for the Sichuan earthquake relief. She has been married to her husband Enoch since 1982.[1]

Member of Parliament

Wong was first elected in 2008 in the riding of Richmond with 50% of the votes cast, compared to the incumbent Raymond Chan, who received 31%.[2] In 2011, she was re-elected with 58% of the vote compared to 18% for her nearest rival.[3] In 2015 she was re-elected in the riding of Richmond Centre with 44.2% of the vote compared to her nearest rival's 41.4%.[4]

On May 18, 2011, Wong was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of State for Seniors.[5] Reelected in 2015, she left the Cabinet as the Liberal Party gained a majority in the House of Commons.

She was re-elected in the 2019 federal election, but was excluded from new leader Erin O'Toole's Shadow Cabinet.[6]

Wong was defeated in the 2021 Canadian federal election, losing Richmond Centre to Liberal Wilson Miao. Her defeat was considered a major upset, primarily caused by the unpopularity of the conservatives among Chinese Canadians.

Political views

In the fall of 2012, Alice Wong stated that the government's top priorities focuses on job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity.[7]

Wong refused to play a role in the Canada Summer jobs program over the human rights statement supporting abortion and LGBT rights.[8]

Abortion

Wong is anti-abortion, and is a volunteer for the Campaign Life Coalition, a national organization which opposes abortion, same-sex marriage and gender identity legislation.[9]

Wong voted in support of Bill C-233 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion), which would restrict abortion access, making it a criminal offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.[10]

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada has identified Wong's stance as anti-abortion.

Conversion Therapy

On June 22, 2021, Wong was one of 63 MPs to vote against Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), which was ultimately passed by majority vote, making certain aspects of conversion therapy a crime, including "causing a child to undergo conversion therapy."[11]

Environment

Her environmental platform has been criticized by the opposition for her views regarding shark fin soup because she was seen publicly eating the soup at a news conference in October 2012.[12] Many environmentalists condemn the process of shark finning. She said in a statement, "If a product such as shark fin is derived from a legal, humane and sustainable harvest, we see no basis to restrict its trade".[13]

Electoral record

2021 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wilson Miao 13,440 39.34 +10.87 $46,560.77
Conservative Alice Wong 12,668 37.08 –11.56 $106,375.38
New Democratic Sandra Nixon 6,196 18.14 +3.67 $7,576.20
Green Laura Gillanders 1,109 3.25 –2.87 $3,975.22
People's James Hinton 748 2.19 +0.80 None listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 34,161 100.00 $108,507.63
Total rejected ballots 340 0.99 +0.04
Turnout 34,501 46.22 –6.75
Eligible voters 74,640
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +11.22
Source: Elections Canada[14][15][16]
2019 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Alice Wong 19,037 49.04 +4.84 $101,329.13
Liberal Steven Kou 11,052 28.47 -12.89 $86,522.82
New Democratic Dustin Innes 5,617 14.47 +2.97 $0.00
Green Françoise Raunet 2,376 6.12 +3.23 $2,308.51
People's Ivan Pak 538 1.39 $5,776.08
Independent Zhe Zhang 197 0.51 $184.60
Total valid votes/expense limit 38,817 99.05   $102,820.08
Total rejected ballots 371 0.95 +0.38
Turnout 39,188 52.97 -4.56
Eligible voters 73,975
Conservative hold Swing +8.86
Source: Elections Canada[17][18]
2015 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Alice Wong 17,622 44.21 -13.86 $154,059.88
Liberal Lawrence Woo 16,486 41.36 +22.61 $110,802.58
New Democratic Jack Trovato 4,602 11.54 -6.66 $11,679.42
Green Vincent Chiu 1,152 2.89 -2.10 $2,372.74
Total valid votes/expense limit 39,862 99.43   $202,743.02
Total rejected ballots 227 0.57
Turnout 40,089 57.53
Eligible voters 69,678
Conservative hold Swing -18.23
Source: Elections Canada[19][20]
2011 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Alice Wong 25,109 58.36 +8.59 $89,330.05
Liberal Joe Peschisolido 8,027 18.66 -12.19 $54,757.85
New Democratic Dale Jackaman 7,860 18.27 +6.46 $9,038.79
Green Michael Wolfe 2,032 4.72 -1.71 $2,933.09
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,028 100.0     $91,788.64
Total rejected ballots 220 0.51 +0.06
Turnout 43,248 50.97 +1
Eligible voters 84,855
Conservative hold Swing +10.39


2008 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Alice Wong 21,329 49.77 +11.08 $79,037
Liberal Raymond Chan 13,221 30.85 -11.98 $78,275
New Democratic Dale Jackaman 5,059 11.81 -2.17 $14,221
Green Michael Wolfe 2,754 6.43 +1.93 $1,900
Independent Wei Ping Chen 397 0.93 $6,851
Independent Dobie Yiu-Chung To 93 0.22 $1,813
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,878 100.0     $86,879
Total rejected ballots 192 0.45 0.01
Turnout 43,070 52 -4
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.53
2004 Canadian federal election: Richmond Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Raymond Chan 18,204 44.48 +2.44 $64,433
Conservative Alice Wong 14,457 35.32 -14.51 $71,614
New Democratic Dale Jackaman 6,142 15.00 +9.32 $11,072
Green Stephen H.F. Kronstein 1,743 4.25 +2.36 $160
Canadian Action Allan Warnke 376 0.91 $625
Total valid votes 40,922 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 226 0.55 +0.08
Turnout 41,148 62.29 +0.59
Liberal hold Swing +8.48

See also

References

  1. ^ "About Alice Wong". Hon. Alice Wong, P.C. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Wong, Fry among winners in B.C. battlegrounds". CTV News. October 15, 2008. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  3. ^ "Conservatives sweep Richmond ridings". Richmond Review. BCLocalNews.com. May 3, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  4. ^ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  5. ^ "Stephen Harper's new cabinet includes Metro Vancouver's Alice Wong, James Moore". The Georgia Straight. May 18, 2011. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  6. ^ O'Toole, Erin. "It's time to take another look at the Conservative Party. Meet our Shadow Cabinet. We are here to fight for you and your family". Twitter. @erinotoole. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Helping 1,600 Canadians with disabilities getting jobs". Alice Wong, MP website. October 11, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  8. ^ cbc.ca CBC News, April 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Campaign Life Coalition (June 28, 2022). "Candidate, Alice Wong: CLC rating: Pro-life, pro-family". Campaign Life Coalition. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  10. ^ House of Commons (June 2, 2021). "2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion)". LEGISinfo.
  11. ^ House of Commons (June 22, 2021). "3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "NDP criticizes Tory MP for eating shark fin soup". CBC News. October 13, 2012. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  13. ^ "Shark Fin Soup Enjoyed By MP Alice Wong For Chinese Media". Huffington Post. October 13, 2012. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  14. ^ "Election Night Results — Elections Canada". Elections Canada. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Final Election Expenses Limits for Candidates — 44th Canadian Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns – 44th Canadian Election". ELections Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns — Richmond Centre". Elections Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  19. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Richmond Centre, 30 September 2015
  20. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Julian Fantino Minister of State for Seniors
2011–2015
Filomena Tassi