Editor's note: Lourence Singh submitted his Q&A responses on April 15, past the April 14 deadline given to all candidates.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am the son of immigrant parents and migrated to Canada at the age of two. My father of Indian-origin and mother of Filipino-origin met in Hong Kong where I was born in 1995. I graduated from Simon Fraser University in 2019 with a business degree (BBA) and economics minor. I obtained my real estate trading services licence in 2015 and excelled as a Realtor while concurrently completing university. During this period, I also volunteered with student-run non-profit organizations and the Beedie Endowment Asset Management (BEAM) Fund. In 2015, I was awarded the Surrey Board of Trade’s Top 25 Under 25 award for my community involvement and business achievements. I possess international experience having completed both a study abroad semester and HSBC summer banking internship in Hong Kong. Since graduating from university, I have worked in the private sector at two startups in the consulting, financial services and fintech spaces.
Do you live in New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville? If not, where do you live?
I currently live in the Surrey Central area, where I was raised. While I don’t yet reside in New Westminster–Burnaby–Maillardville, I’ve spent nearly a year getting to know the riding and its vibrant communities since seeking the CPC nomination. I’ve made it a priority to build meaningful relationships with residents, businesses and local organizations, regularly attending events hosted by the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce, BIA, Hyack, and other community groups. If elected, I plan to move into the riding, with a particular interest in living in downtown New Westminster. I believe it’s important to live among the people I aim to represent, and I’m fully committed to understanding their concerns, values, and aspirations. My goal is to be a strong, local voice who is both accessible and deeply connected to the community I hope to serve.
What makes you the best candidate for New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville?
At 30 years old, I bring a strong mix of youthful energy, professional experience, and a commitment to public service. I’ve built a career in real estate, business, and startups, and I’m driven to make a difference through practical, common-sense solutions. Over the past year, I’ve taken a grassroots approach to my candidacy—putting in the groundwork, meeting residents, attending local events, and listening to the community. I believe this riding deserves a representative who is present, engaged, and ready to work hard. I’m committed to inspiring young Canadians to take part in the political process and to championing policies that reflect the needs of all Canadians from affordability and public safety to opportunity and unity. I’m someone who cares about people and is ready to roll up my sleeves to deliver results for New Westminster–Burnaby–Maillardville. I believe that cognitive empathy and building genuine relationships are keys to excelling as an MP.
What makes you the best candidate for New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville?
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Affordability and a strong economy
Canadians are working harder but falling further behind. Over the past decade, per capita GDP growth has been just 0.5%, meaning Canadians aren't getting wealthier, while the cost of everything—from groceries to housing—continues to soar. We need to get Canada’s economy back on track by unleashing the full potential of our resource and energy sectors, reducing red tape, and lowering taxes so that families and businesses can thrive. It’s time to restore economic confidence, grow paycheques, and create jobs.
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Public safety
Communities across B.C. and Canada are seeing a rise in crime, with B.C.’s crime rate ~40% above the national average. We must end the cycle of repeat, violent offenders being released back onto our streets. I support "jail, not bail" for habitual violent criminals and advocate for tougher sentences for serious crimes like fentanyl trafficking and human trafficking. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community.
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Health-care access
Our health-care system is under immense strain. To help alleviate pressure, we must ensure Canada has enough qualified medical professionals. I support creating a national standard that allows internationally trained doctors and nurses to prove their qualifications and begin practicing in Canada. This will reduce ER wait times and help more Canadians obtain access to a family physician.
Many Canadians are deeply concerned about the ongoing threats of annexation and tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. How would you deal with this situation?
I believe Canada must respond to the threats of tariffs and economic pressure with strength and self-reliance. For too long, we’ve been overly dependent on the U.S. as our primary trading partner often selling our natural resources, particularly oil and LNG, at a steep discount. That’s not sustainable for our economy or our sovereignty. We must urgently diversify our markets.
Canada has a world-class energy sector, and we should be exporting LNG to Asia and Europe which are actively seeking reliable, ethical alternatives to their energy suppliers. This not only strengthens our economy and job market, but also supports our allies and global energy security. At the same time, we need to fix the inefficiencies at home. One major barrier to Canadian competitiveness is the lack of economic unity within our own country. Intraprovincial trade barriers—such as different standards for truckers or regulations that vary by province hold back our economic potential. I will push for a true internal free market, and I support efforts to remove these outdated obstacles so Canadian businesses can operate seamlessly across the country. Rather than waiting for the next U.S. policy shift, we need to take control of our future by building resilient supply chains, strengthening domestic trade, and expanding global partnerships. As an independent, I’ll fight for policies that put Canada first through energy independence, economic freedom, and strategic global engagement.
What would you do to address housing affordability for residents in New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville?
I believe addressing housing affordability requires a practical, math-based approach: wages must grow faster than housing prices, and homebuilding must outpace population growth. Right now, that’s simply not happening—Canada has the fewest homes per capita in the G7, and demand continues to soar. New Westminster is already the second most densely populated city in Canada, which means we need smarter growth—adding amenities like schools, parks, and transit to support livability as density increases. But we also need to look beyond the riding.
Neighbouring municipalities with more available land must step up and increase housing supply. The federal government can incentivize this by tying infrastructure funding to housing targets, rewarding municipalities that build and removing roadblocks that delay construction. We also need to streamline permitting processes and reduce bureaucracy that drives up building costs. At the same time, we must focus on economic policies that raise wages and lower inflation like reducing taxes and controlling government spending so Canadians can actually afford to live in the communities they work in. I’ll advocate for practical, results-driven policies that put home ownership back within reach. It’s time to restore the dream of home ownership for the next generation.
With the ongoing tariff concerns, what would you do to protect Canadian jobs and ease the financial burden on consumers?
I believe Canada must take bold, practical steps to protect Canadian jobs and ease the financial burden on consumers, especially in light of ongoing tariff concerns from our largest trading partner. The key is to focus on self-reliance, economic competitiveness, and putting Canadian workers first.
First, we must prioritize domestic production. Whatever we can produce here in Canada, we should—whether it's steel, energy, food, or manufactured goods. That means creating the right environment for businesses to invest and expand in Canada instead of relocating elsewhere. A big part of that is axing the industrial carbon tax, which drives up costs for manufacturers and makes it less viable to operate here. Removing it will help keep jobs in Canada and encourage companies to grow at home.
We also need to diversify our trade relationships. Canada has relied too heavily on the U.S., often selling our resources—like LNG—at a discount. Expanding exports to Asia and Europe will strengthen our economy and reduce our vulnerability to tariffs. In addition, I believe in eliminating internal trade barriers, like conflicting regulations between provinces. A truly united Canadian market will increase efficiency, reduce consumer costs, and make it easier for companies to scale. As an independent, I will push for policies that restore Canadian competitiveness, bring back affordability, and ensure that our economic future is built right here at home. It's time to build a more resilient and self-sufficient Canada.
The New West Record, Burnaby NOW, and Tri-City News will soon be closing. How will you work to strengthen or change the Online News Act to ensure Canadians in communities of all sizes continue to have access to independent, trustworthy local information?
I believe in protecting free speech and fostering a competitive media landscape without excessive government interference. The Online News Act has had unintended consequences contributing to the decline of local news access by creating barriers between platforms and publishers. Rather than doubling down on flawed legislation, I support reforming the act to incentivize partnerships between tech platforms and local news outlets, without forced payments or bureaucratic gatekeeping.
We must encourage innovation, and support grassroots journalism through tax credits or community-based funding. Local news is essential for democratic accountability. Ottawa must empower communities not control them. I’ll advocate for a transparent, balanced approach that respects the free market, protects journalistic integrity, and ensures all Canadians, regardless of where they live, stay informed by local, trustworthy sources.
Where can voters contact you? (Email, phone, social media, etc.)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-359-6956
Instagram: @LourenceSinghCampaign
