Former Beijing teacher learns his political craft in the west

When he moved to Canada eight years ago, Chen Weiping, a former Beijing marketing teacher, found himself rising at 6am every day to clean office buildings and sweep parking lots, before rushing to his second job, operating a table saw at a factory in the Vancouver area. Life wasn't what he envisioned when he left China.

'I was dreaming for the freedom and opportunity promised by the west,' Mr Chen said. 'Now I find something that's different, not 100 per cent good, not perfect.'

Even though Mr Chen had a masters degree in business administration from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, finding work in his area of expertise was difficult, discrimination was commonplace, and no one in a position of authority seemed to represent his interests. So, aiming to speak for underrepresented immigrants, Mr Chen formed his own Nation Alliance Party (NAP) last year, Canada's first political party geared toward newcomers largely from mainland China. Now, he has the chance to put his political ambitions to the test. Mr Chen, 49, who now works as a property agent, is vying for a parliamentary seat in next Tuesday's federal election, and simultaneously running for mayor of Richmond, British Columbia, in the November 15 civic election.

Although the Chinese population accounts for more than 40 per cent of his Richmond riding, Mr Chen admits he is unlikely to win a seat in parliament.

'I know I'm not well-prepared,' he said, estimating the odds against him in the federal race at 9-1, at best. Last month, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the federal election would be held a year ahead of schedule, prompting Mr Chen to scramble to put his campaign together.

He is running as an independent candidate, instead of as leader of his fledgling party, because the NAP is registered only at the provincial level. He and a volunteer NAP member have been handing out photocopied fliers in their spare time, and his modest campaign is financed by the odd hundred dollars here and there, donated by friends and family.