Richmond man who fought Mandarin-only meetings moves

A Richmond man who took his fight over Mandarin-only strata meetings at his townhouse complex to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has moved.

Andreas Kargut and six other residents filed a class-action complaint because they couldn’t participate in a Mandarin-only meeting in the 54-unit complex. They claimed they were being discriminated against by the strata council.

After the parties reached a presettlement last year, a handful of meetings were held in English with a Mandarin translator.

But then a resolution that would have ensured every meeting had an accredited interpreter was voted down by strata members.

Now Kargut and the other parties to his complaint are waiting for a decision as to whether they can proceed to a hearing at the human rights tribunal over the matter.

In the meantime, Kargut has had enough and on Canada Day, he and his family moved to Vernon.

“The human rights case is the greatest contributor to us leaving,” Kargut said. “With all of the discrimination that was happening (it) ruined my good name in Richmond. There was accusations of me being a liar, a crook and a racist.”

Kargut ruled out a move within Richmond because he could not afford a larger place and would have lost money in commissions, taxes and legal and transfer fees had he moved into a place of similar size. A downsize was off the table at this stage in life, he said.

Kargut would like to see the Strata Property Act amended to state English, as an official language, must be used — rather than denied — at strata council meetings.

Mary Zhang, president of the strata council at the time of the failed resolution vote, previously told Postmedia News that members supported using a translator when non-Mandarin speakers were present at meetings, but opposed using one when all in attendance spoke Mandarin.