During Richmond’s municipal election, some political groups campaigned with the slogan “No Drugs.” It attracted attention and spoke to people’s concerns about safety and addiction. But I was left asking what it actually meant and how they intended to achieve it.

As the new City Council begins its term on November 2, it is time to ask for clear answers.

What does “no” mean? Preventing young people from becoming involved with harmful drugs? Stopping drug trafficking? Expanding access to treatment and recovery? Or removing people struggling with addiction from public view? These are very different goals, with very different consequences.

Residents deserve to know what actions will follow, what resources are needed, which responsibilities belong to the city, and how progress will be measured. Moving people from one neighbourhood to another does not resolve their addiction or make their need for help disappear.

I want a safer Richmond. I also want a Richmond where people struggling with addiction are treated as human beings—with dignity, compassion, and access to support. Community safety and humane treatment must guide the work together.

Those elected have a responsibility to explain their promises and be accountable for what follows. I hope our new council will listen to residents, frontline workers, and people with lived experience, and turn campaign words into thoughtful, practical action.

The election is over. The responsibility to deliver begins.

在列治文市選期間，一些政治團體以「不要毒品」（No Drugs）作為競選口號。這句口號吸引了關注，也回應了市民對社區安全和毒品成癮問題的憂慮。然而，我一直想問：這究竟是甚麼意思？他們打算如何實現？

隨著新一屆市議會於11月2日就職，現在是時候給市民清楚的答案。

「不要」究竟指甚麼？是預防青少年接觸毒品？打擊販毒？增加戒毒治療和康復支援？還是讓受成癮困擾的人消失於公眾視線之中？這些目標截然不同，帶來的後果也很不一樣。

市民有權知道：口號之後會有哪些具體行動？需要投入多少資源？哪些屬於市政府的職責？又如何衡量成效？把人從一個社區趕到另一個社區，並不能解決成癮問題，也不會讓他們對援助的需要消失。

我希望列治文更安全。我也希望，在列治文，受成癮困擾的人仍然得到應有的尊重、關懷和支援。他們是有尊嚴的人。保障社區安全與以人道方式對待他們，必須同時成為施政的原則。

當選者有責任清楚解釋競選承諾，並為之後的行動和結果接受問責。我期望新一屆市議會聆聽居民、前線工作者，以及親身經歷成癮與康復人士的聲音，把競選口號化為周詳、務實而有人性的行動。

選舉已經結束，兌現承諾的責任現在開始。