Milan Kljajic

Council · Richmond

Richmond 11 yrs

About

Milan Kljajic 夏•米男 is an independent candidate for Richmond City Council with no ties to any slate. He works in seniors housing and believes in practical, fiscally responsible decisions made issue by issue.

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. Neutral

✓ 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. Neutral

✓ 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. Neutral

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. Neutral

~ Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters. Neutral

✓ 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?

My contribution to climate action has been practical rather than political. In my professional work managing housing for hundreds of Richmond seniors, I have seen first-hand how building efficiency, maintenance, energy use and resilience affect residents, particularly those on fixed incomes. I support practical upgrades that reduce waste, improve efficiency and keep operating costs manageable.

Personally, I have also reduced my own transportation emissions by switching to an electric vehicle and using home and public charging rather than relying on gasoline.

I have not served on a formal climate advisory committee, and I believe it is important to be honest about that. My approach is to support realistic environmental measures that produce measurable benefits while considering affordability, municipal jurisdiction and the impact on residents. If elected, I would bring that same practical approach to climate-related decisions at City Council.

Questions for Richmond

Do you support or oppose the Fortis Tilbury LNG expansion?

I have concerns regarding the proposed Tilbury LNG expansion, particularly its location, environmental impacts and the concerns Richmond has raised regarding consultation and access to project information. I believe decisions of this scale should be based on a complete environmental assessment, clear safety information and meaningful consultation with the City and affected communities. I would review the final evidence, project conditions and Richmond’s interests before making a final decision rather than committing to a position without all of the information.

Do you prioritize active transportation with investments in walking, rolling, and cycling infrastructure that is safe, connected, easy to navigate, and accessible?

Yes. I support continued investment in safe, connected and accessible walking, rolling and cycling infrastructure, particularly where it improves safety, connects neighbourhoods, transit and community amenities, and provides realistic transportation choices for residents. Richmond already has active transportation goals and a long-term cycling network plan, so I would focus on practical projects that close gaps in the network and provide clear community benefit. At the same time, transportation investments should be balanced with road safety, accessibility, transit needs and the movement of goods throughout the city.

Do you support acceleration of the City's adoption of the Zero Carbon Step Code?

I support Richmond’s continued implementation of the Zero Carbon Step Code, but I would not commit to accelerating the current schedule without reviewing the impacts on housing affordability, construction costs, industry readiness and energy infrastructure. Richmond already adopted the Zero Carbon Step Code in 2023 and has established requirements for new construction. I believe Council should continue making progress toward lower-emission buildings while ensuring that further changes are practical, achievable and do not unnecessarily increase the cost of building new homes.

Do you support expansion of Richmond's award-winning district energy systems?

Yes, I support the continued expansion of Richmond’s district energy systems where there is a clear environmental benefit, reliable service and a sound financial case. Richmond has already demonstrated leadership through Lulu Island Energy Company, and I would support further expansion where it is technically practical, financially responsible and competitive for residents and businesses. As with any major infrastructure investment, I would want Council to review costs, long-term demand and impacts on customers before approving individual projects.

What will you do to increase the number and types of green jobs and career training opportunities in Richmond?

I would focus on creating the conditions for green jobs to grow in Richmond rather than promising that City Hall can create them on its own. Richmond can support clean technology, building retrofits, EV infrastructure, district energy, sustainable construction and local agriculture through its economic development policies and procurement decisions.

I would also support stronger partnerships with local post-secondary institutions, employers, trades and senior governments so Richmond residents can access training for emerging jobs in these sectors

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 2 contributions totalling $1,525.00.

2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

2 contributions · $1,525.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
MILAN KLJAJIC	May 25, 2022	$1,250.00	BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE	VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT
IRENA KLJAJIC	May 25, 2022	$275.00	BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE	VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.

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