Henry Yao
Mayor · Richmond
Richmond Centre 36 yrs
About
As a former MLA and father of two young children, I am committed to policies that strengthen food and water security. While serving in the Legislature, I joined community cleanups, invasive-species removal, tree planting, and recycling events.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
✓
Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
✓
Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
✓
Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Supportive
✓
Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Supportive
✓
Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
✓
Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources.
Supportive
✓
Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters.
Supportive
✓
Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
✓
Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
✓
Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
✓
Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents.
Supportive
✓
Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
✓
Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
✓
Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
✓
Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
✓
Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
✓
Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
✓
Expand EV charging infrastructure.
Supportive
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
✓
Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Supportive
✓
Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
✓
Develop and implement a water security plan.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
✓
Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Supportive
✓
Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
✓
Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
As a former MLA, I hosted and participated in many initiatives to protect our environment and strengthen Richmond’s food and water security.
I secured $1 million for the Richmond Food Hub to support local food security. I also hosted invasive-species removal and community cleanup events, worked with a local conservation society to plant an urban forest, and collaborated with KPU Farm School to advance local agriculture.
In the Legislature, I consistently championed food and water security. These experiences strengthened my commitment to protecting Richmond’s natural environment, supporting local food production, and building a more resilient future for generations to come.
I secured $1 million for the Richmond Food Hub to support local food security. I also hosted invasive-species removal and community cleanup events, worked with a local conservation society to plant an urban forest, and collaborated with KPU Farm School to advance local agriculture.
In the Legislature, I consistently championed food and water security. These experiences strengthened my commitment to protecting Richmond’s natural environment, supporting local food production, and building a more resilient future for generations to come.
Questions for Richmond
Do you support or oppose the Fortis Tilbury LNG expansion?
That is a difficult question. For a long time, I opposed this expansion. However, Donald Trump’s policies and Russia’s war against Ukraine have underscored the importance of economic and energy sovereignty in protecting our future.
I remain uncomfortable with expanding fossil-fuel infrastructure. At the same time, our province cannot rely indefinitely on deficit spending or disregard the jobs and revenues that currently support communities and public services.
We need a responsible transition plan—not an abrupt shift that severely harms our economy. Any expansion must meet strong environmental standards, demonstrate clear public benefits, and contribute to emissions reduction.
Meanwhile, the Province must diversify our economy, invest in innovation, and accelerate the development of renewable energy.
My position is therefore neither unconditional support nor absolute opposition. I support a practical and accountable transition that protects our environment, strengthens our economic sovereignty, and gives workers, communities, and industries a realistic path toward a cleaner economy.
I remain uncomfortable with expanding fossil-fuel infrastructure. At the same time, our province cannot rely indefinitely on deficit spending or disregard the jobs and revenues that currently support communities and public services.
We need a responsible transition plan—not an abrupt shift that severely harms our economy. Any expansion must meet strong environmental standards, demonstrate clear public benefits, and contribute to emissions reduction.
Meanwhile, the Province must diversify our economy, invest in innovation, and accelerate the development of renewable energy.
My position is therefore neither unconditional support nor absolute opposition. I support a practical and accountable transition that protects our environment, strengthens our economic sovereignty, and gives workers, communities, and industries a realistic path toward a cleaner economy.
Do you prioritize active transportation with investments in walking, rolling, and cycling infrastructure that is safe, connected, easy to navigate, and accessible?
Public transit and active transportation infrastructure are not only good for the environment. They support mental and physical health, strengthen community connections, reduce transportation costs for families, and provide more equitable access to employment, education, services, and recreation.
Yes, I would prioritize safe, accessible, and reliable public transit and active transportation infrastructure. Richmond residents should have practical alternatives to driving, whether they are walking, cycling, using mobility devices, or taking transit.
Better-connected neighbourhoods can improve residents’ overall well-being, reduce household expenses, and help people participate more fully in community life. My goal is to build a transportation network that improves affordability, accessibility, safety, and connectivity for everyone.
Yes, I would prioritize safe, accessible, and reliable public transit and active transportation infrastructure. Richmond residents should have practical alternatives to driving, whether they are walking, cycling, using mobility devices, or taking transit.
Better-connected neighbourhoods can improve residents’ overall well-being, reduce household expenses, and help people participate more fully in community life. My goal is to build a transportation network that improves affordability, accessibility, safety, and connectivity for everyone.
Do you support acceleration of the City's adoption of the Zero Carbon Step Code?
Yes, I support the City of Richmond adopting the Zero Carbon Step Code.
Wildfires, heat domes, droughts, floods, air pollution, and habitat loss demonstrate the growing environmental pressures we face. Richmond must focus on both climate mitigation and adaptation—reducing the harm we contribute while preparing our infrastructure, emergency services, and communities for increasingly severe weather.
Reducing emissions can help limit future damage and give society more time to adapt. At the same time, we must strengthen flood protection, cooling and clean-air supports, emergency preparedness, food and water security, and protections for vulnerable residents.
Climate change is making conditions more extreme and less predictable. Our response must be practical, timely, and equitable. The Zero Carbon Step Code is one tool that can help Richmond reduce emissions from new buildings while moving toward a safer, healthier, and more resilient future.
Wildfires, heat domes, droughts, floods, air pollution, and habitat loss demonstrate the growing environmental pressures we face. Richmond must focus on both climate mitigation and adaptation—reducing the harm we contribute while preparing our infrastructure, emergency services, and communities for increasingly severe weather.
Reducing emissions can help limit future damage and give society more time to adapt. At the same time, we must strengthen flood protection, cooling and clean-air supports, emergency preparedness, food and water security, and protections for vulnerable residents.
Climate change is making conditions more extreme and less predictable. Our response must be practical, timely, and equitable. The Zero Carbon Step Code is one tool that can help Richmond reduce emissions from new buildings while moving toward a safer, healthier, and more resilient future.
Do you support expansion of Richmond's award-winning district energy systems?
Yes, I support expanding Richmond’s award-winning district energy systems. However, recognition must not dull our sense of urgency. Awards are valuable, but our priority must remain preparing residents for greater climate instability and extreme weather, which disproportionately harm vulnerable people.
I want greater emphasis on food and water security, tree planting, accessible cooling and warming centres, and alternative energy options. We must also strengthen community preparedness for extreme temperature fluctuations and service disruptions.
Success should not be measured by awards or technical compliance alone. If our policies become box-checking exercises, we risk practising tokenistic environmentalism while overlooking what Richmond actually needs. Every investment should be assessed by whether it reduces emissions, strengthens resilience, protects vulnerable residents, and delivers practical benefits to the community.
Richmond should be proud of its achievements, but recognition must motivate us to do more—not become a substitute for meaningful action.
I want greater emphasis on food and water security, tree planting, accessible cooling and warming centres, and alternative energy options. We must also strengthen community preparedness for extreme temperature fluctuations and service disruptions.
Success should not be measured by awards or technical compliance alone. If our policies become box-checking exercises, we risk practising tokenistic environmentalism while overlooking what Richmond actually needs. Every investment should be assessed by whether it reduces emissions, strengthens resilience, protects vulnerable residents, and delivers practical benefits to the community.
Richmond should be proud of its achievements, but recognition must motivate us to do more—not become a substitute for meaningful action.
What will you do to increase the number and types of green jobs and career training opportunities in Richmond?
Richmond should incentivize industries focused on renewable energy, agriculture, water security, science and research, and environmental conservation. We should help these sectors build a future in our community while identifying and addressing unnecessary bottlenecks in the City’s permitting and licensing systems.
The City should also explore local grants that help non-profits hire Richmond residents for jobs that restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and advance environmental goals.
By facilitating collaboration among the private sector, non-profits, and the City, we can create local jobs that strengthen Richmond’s economy while investing in our long-term future. Economic development and environmental responsibility should reinforce each other.
Through practical support, efficient processes, and strong partnerships, Richmond can attract new ideas, develop local talent, and become a leader in sustainable innovation and community resilience.
The City should also explore local grants that help non-profits hire Richmond residents for jobs that restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and advance environmental goals.
By facilitating collaboration among the private sector, non-profits, and the City, we can create local jobs that strengthen Richmond’s economy while investing in our long-term future. Economic development and environmental responsibility should reinforce each other.
Through practical support, efficient processes, and strong partnerships, Richmond can attract new ideas, develop local talent, and become a leader in sustainable innovation and community resilience.
Campaign contributions
Public records from Elections BC — 5 contributions totalling $22,583.10.
2014 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS
5 contributions · $22,583.10
| Contributor | Date | Amount | Office | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HENRY YAO | Nov 22, 2014 | $17,493.10 | COUNCILLOR | RICHMOND |
| GRANT YAO | Oct 22, 2014 | $2,000.00 | COUNCILLOR | RICHMOND |
| JU YAO | Oct 22, 2014 | $1,090.00 | COUNCILLOR | RICHMOND |
| KIRBY YAO | Oct 22, 2014 | $1,000.00 | COUNCILLOR | RICHMOND |
| KIRBY YAO | Nov 10, 2014 | $1,000.00 | COUNCILLOR | RICHMOND |
Compiled & presented by
Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.
© 2026 Vote4Tomorrow