Briefly: Chak Au exits meeting after disclosing gig with Remedios and Company. The former B.C. NDP candidate is seeking a Conservative nomination.
Bob Mackin
A longtime Richmond city councillor, who is seeking the Conservative nomination in the Richmond Centre-Marpole federal riding, revealed that he is working for a Vancouver law firm.
At the start of a Nov. 25 special meeting, which was called to decided the fate of a cosmetic store’s business licence, Coun. Chak Au told Mayor Malcolm Brodie he had to leave.
Lawyer Anthony Remedios (left) and Richmond Coun. Chak Au at a September 2022 BC Liberal Party event (Remedios.Lawyer)
“I could have a perceived conflict of interest because I’m a consultant of Remedios and Company,” Au said. “I don’t want to be seen as having a conflict, so I will excuse myself from the meeting.”
Remedios and Company represents the owners of Tokyo Beauty and Healthcare in Aberdeen Centre, Nagoya Trading Ltd. Health Canada has issued five warnings about Tokyo Beauty. One of which was for selling Pabron Gold A Granules Cold Medication, a product containing an opioid.
Neither Au nor Remedios and Company principal Anthony Remedios have responded for comment.
In 2023, Au received $99,735 in salary and benefits from Richmond taxpayers. He also racked up $11,856 in expenses.
On Aug. 25, 2017, Remedios was among 22 guests invited to an Au-arranged lunchwith Premier John Horgan. Earlier in 2017, Au ran unsuccessfully for the NDP in the provincial election riding of Richmond-South Centre. Elections BC’s database shows two $500 donations to the NDP from Remedios and Company in September 2017.
Remedios and Company’s website says it specializes in Trans-Pacific investment and immigration: “We act for multinationals, banks, mining companies, solar companies, pharmaceutical companies, financial firms, private investors from Asia, real estate developers, etc.”
The Remedios and Company website also includes a photo of Remedios and Au at a September 2022 BC Liberal event in Richmond and at a July 2023 meeting in Richmond city hall with Vietnam’s Consul General Nguyen Quang Truong.
During the Nov. 25 council meeting, Remedios and Company articled student Matthew Remedios said that Tokyo Beauty has made “extraordinary efforts to ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations.”
“These efforts underscore a sincere commitment to maintaining the highest regulatory standards and ensuring the safety and well-being of its customers,” Matthew Remedios said.
Council members voted unanimously to cancel the Aberdeen Centre store’s licence. Tokyo Beauty operates two other locations in Richmond.
WATCH: Richmond Coun. Chak Au reveals he works for a law firm.
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