Photos: Chinese New Year Parade brings out politicians in Vancouver

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      Thousands of people braved the rain to take in the annual Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver's Chinatown.

      Also in attendance were dozens of politicians hoping the Year of the Rabbit will bring them luck in the B.C. Liberal and NDP leadership contests, this fall's civic elections, or the looming federal election.

      The Straight spotted Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff; federal minister of citizenship, immigration, and multiculturalism Jason Kenney; B.C. NDP interim leader Dawn Black; B.C. Liberal leadership candidates George Abbott, Mike de Jong, Kevin Falcon, and Moira Stilwell; B.C. NDP leadership hopeful Adrian Dix; Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson; and others working the crowd.

      Politicians handed out lai see (sans lucky money) and wished voters lining the parade route "Gung hay fat choy."

      You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

      Comments

      11 Comments

      Ken Lawson

      Feb 6, 2011 at 7:20pm

      I rather watch the super bowl than this nonsense, what is Ignattiff doing there wasting taxpayers money travel, and same Ida Chong who will soon be voted out.

      What a creepshow!

      Feb 6, 2011 at 7:41pm

      That'a all I can say.

      Taxpayers R Us

      Feb 6, 2011 at 9:09pm

      Shameless.

      NDB

      Feb 6, 2011 at 10:25pm

      fake fake fake fake

      hAYOKA

      Feb 6, 2011 at 11:23pm

      it's the lunar new year not Chinese new , or it should be called Tibetan new year and Mongolian new year and Sioux new year etc . Silly mest up money grubbers , harpers not there because he isn't good with minorities .

      Ziggles

      Feb 7, 2011 at 12:03am

      It's the one time per year any of these bozos actually get anywhere near the DTES.

      monty (that's me)

      Feb 7, 2011 at 9:07am

      Sluuuuuuurp!

      Kathy L.

      Feb 7, 2011 at 9:43am

      It is a Liberal love fest to win over Asian voters who traditionally vote Liberal but have been swayed of late to other parties. Ignatieff was ther as Big Daddy to to lead them all. One of the above comments is so right, "It's the onlt timew of year any these bozos get anywhere near the downtown east side"!

      thanks for the heads up

      Feb 7, 2011 at 12:28pm

      Whenever I see politicians smoozinig it up and slacking off rather than doing real work, I vote for the politician who is at home spending time with his or her family or doing research on solving the problems that we elected them to solve.

      Hallowe'en redux

      Feb 7, 2011 at 8:05pm

      My son had a brillo time collecting chocolates from Ignatieff et al. Too bad about all the pushing and shoving and muttering in the crowd. You want to see multiculturalism policy hard at work? Ignore the official parade and watch the sidewalks.