Richmond East—Steveston

Richmond East—Steveston occupies the eastern and southern portions of the City of Richmond, stretching from the suburban neighbourhoods east of No. 3 Road to the historic fishing village of Steveston on the Fraser River's south arm. The riding includes the communities of Steveston, South Arm, Hamilton, East Cambie, Shellmont, and Broadmoor, blending heritage character in Steveston with suburban residential areas and the agricultural lands of eastern Richmond. The 2022 redistribution made only minor adjustments to the riding's boundaries, shifting the northern boundary slightly to include the area south of Williams Road.

Candidates

Parm Bains (Liberal) has represented this riding since 2021, when he defeated Conservative incumbent Kenny Chiu. Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Bains is a lifelong Richmond resident from a Jat Sikh family. He holds a background in corporate communications with 17 years of experience in public policy, stakeholder engagement, and government relations. Prior to his election, he was an instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and a media and public relations officer with the provincial government. Bains serves as Vice-Chair of the Richmond Community Foundation and is active in the local sports community as a coach and mentor.

Zach Segal (Conservative) grew up in the Steveston area, attending McKinney Elementary and Steveston-London Secondary. He graduated from the University of British Columbia before working in Ottawa for the former Conservative government, then completed a Master of Arts at the University of London. He returned to Richmond to raise his family.

Keefer Pelech (NDP) ran as the New Democratic Party candidate in the riding.

Steven Ji (Green Party) represented the Green Party of Canada.

About the Riding

Richmond East—Steveston is defined by the contrast between Steveston's historic waterfront and the suburban development that characterizes the rest of the riding. Steveston, at the southwestern tip of Lulu Island, retains the character of its origins as a fishing village, with the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, a working fishing harbour, and a walkable commercial village drawing visitors from across the region. The Steveston community is a mix of heritage homes, newer townhouse developments, and co-operative housing.

East of Steveston, the riding transitions into typical Richmond suburbia—single-family homes, townhouse complexes, and strip commercial developments along major arterials. The farming communities of eastern Richmond, where Punjabi families have operated agricultural holdings for generations, give the riding's eastern reaches a distinctly rural character. Hamilton, near the riding's northeastern corner, borders the industrial lands of Queensborough.

In 2025, housing affordability was the leading concern, as Richmond's proximity to Vancouver and strong demand from both domestic buyers and investors pushed prices well beyond the reach of many young families. The riding's agricultural lands faced ongoing development pressure, with debates over the Agricultural Land Reserve and the future of farming in a rapidly urbanizing municipality. Flood risk and the adequacy of Richmond's dike infrastructure were perennial issues in a riding that sits barely above sea level. The US trade dispute raised concerns for the fishing industry, agricultural exporters, and the port-related logistics operations that employ many riding residents.