What they say
Champion a new community police hub at Richmond Hill Centre to anchor local security.
Lessen the residential tax burden by attracting new businesses to grow our commercial tax base.
Construct the overpass bridge at Elgin Mills Road East to relieve gridlock and promote safety.
By issue
From the candidate's campaign site, read 6 October 2026. Godwin Chan campaign, commitments for 2026 2030 page · read 6 October 2026
Taxes and spending
“Keep regional and city taxes low by tightening purchasing controls and limiting the use of external consultants.”
2026–2030
“Call for spending transparency through rigorous monitoring and mandatory, publicly available financial results.”
2026–2030
Housing and development
“Tackle housing issues by engaging non-profits and all stakeholders to expand housing supply, including purpose-built rentals to address affordability.”
2026–2030
“Introduce a 1-year moratorium on future data centre projects to assess community benefits and evaluate impacts on the environment and infrastructure.”
1 year (within 2026–2030)
Community safety
Godwin Chan campaign, home page · read 5 October 2026“I am committed to ensuring that investments made in policing, infrastructure, affordable housing at York Region this term be protected”
“continue to strengthen meaningful engagement with the York Regional Police and community stakeholders to make Richmond Hill safer and stronger”
“Champion a new community police hub at Richmond Hill Centre to anchor local security.”
2026–2030
“Maximize police visibility by increasing patrol frequencies and adding CCTV cameras where necessary.”
2026–2030
“Revitalize community engagement initiatives by resuming the Parks Ambassadors project and modernizing the Neighbourhood Watch program.”
2026–2030
Traffic and roads
“Construct the overpass bridge at Elgin Mills Road East to relieve gridlock and promote safety.”
2026–2030
Local business
“Lessen the residential tax burden by attracting new businesses to grow our commercial tax base.”
2026–2030
Nothing found yet on: Parks and environment, Youth and families, Transit, City services.
On council
25 recorded votes located
Most motions pass without a recorded vote. These are the recorded votes we found, not a complete history.
Taxes and spending
Taxes and spending4 votesReopen Council's September 2024 decision on the committee for the 2025 capital budget
Carried 7-1
Revise the timing of key indoor recreation and park projects
Carried 8-1
Set the 2024 tax increase target at up to 3%, not counting the asset sustainability levy
Carried 5-3
Approve the rest of the 2024 budget strategy
Carried 8-0
Housing and development
Housing and development9 votesDefer City development charges on non-luxury rental buildings to match York Region (rentals kept at least 40 years), with 5% of units at affordable rents for 20 years
Failed 1-8
Receive the staff report on deferring development charges for non-luxury rental buildings
Carried 9-0
Send the development charge deferral motion back to staff for more analysis, with a report by September 16
Failed 3-6
Tell the Ontario Land Tribunal that Council does not support the Parkway Hotels redevelopment applications at Highway 7 and Leslie Street
Carried 8-1
Ask staff to report on a full secondary plan for Bathurst Street and Highway 7
Failed 1-8
Approve a revised Official Plan update timeline and a $2.04M project for two secondary plans along Highway 7
Carried 9-0
Send the Official Plan update and secondary plan report back to staff
Carried 8-1
Approve Official Plan and zoning changes for a Metroview Developments project and assign it servicing capacity
Carried 9-0
Approve revised Official Plan and zoning changes for a Sabella Ridge Estates development on Yonge Street
Carried 7-1
Community safety
Community safety1 votePay York Regional Police for up to five more CCTV cameras, about $20,000 each
Carried 9-0
City services
City services8 votesEnd recycling pickup at super mailboxes in January 2026 instead of 2027
Failed 4-5
Receive the staff report on changes to Blue Box recycling
Carried 9-0
Keep recycling pickup at City buildings from January 2026
Carried 8-1
Keep recycling pickup for downtown businesses in the business improvement area
Carried 9-0
Charge downtown businesses in the business improvement area a $365 waste fee in 2026
Carried 6-3
End recycling pickup at super mailboxes on 1 January 2027
Carried 5-4
End recycling pickup for places of worship, non-profits and daycares from January 2026
Carried 8-1
End all garbage and recycling pickup for industrial and commercial properties outside the business improvement area from January 2026
Carried 9-0
Governance and accountability
Governance and accountability1 voteMove the City's corporate communications away from X (Twitter)
Failed 4-5
Other
Other2 votesConsult the public on a proposed radio antenna system
Carried 9-0
Urge the federal government to hold a second national summit on combating antisemitism
Carried 8-0
Motions moved or seconded
Moving or seconding a motion is not the same as the final vote on it.
- Moved by Send the development charge deferral motion back to staff for more analysis, with a report by September 16 · Failed 3-6 · Minutes
What they say they did on council
Godwin Chan campaign, home page · read 5 October 2026
“Launched a new Service Charter, establishing strict turnaround timelines across 40 City service areas to improve accountability and provide residents with accessible and responsive support.”
“Created the Age-Friendly Community (AFC) Strategy through my targeted Member Motion, and implemented the AFC Advisory Council to drive inclusive policy and develop programs and services that better meet the needs of older adults.”
“Moved in March 2023 to introduce sunset clause as part of site-specific zoning bylaw to help accelerate housing supply so that approved planning applications that fail to begin construction within a specified time period would be rescinded.”
Background, in their words
Godwin Chan campaign, about godwin chan page · read 6 October 2026
“He currently serves as Deputy Mayor and Regional and Local Councillor of the City of Richmond Hill, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, Co-Chair of the York Region Human Services Planning Board, and also as Director of the Housing York Inc. and the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation.”
About our research on this candidate
On the City's certified list, checked 24 August 2026. Campaign site found; not yet read. Council record: 25 recorded votes from 11 meetings. Not a complete history. Press search: not done yet. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.