Liberal candidate Paul Chiang addresses the House of Commons in Ottawa on March 22. The Canadian Press
Liberal leader Mark Carney announced on Monday that he would not remove Paul Chiang as a candidate in the Markham-Unionville riding, despite controversy over comments Chiang made about a Chinese bounty on a Conservative candidate. Carney's decision came after mounting pressure from both political opponents and advocacy groups.
In January, during an interview with Chinese-language media, Chiang suggested that Joe Tay, a Conservative candidate, should be handed over to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. This remark came after Hong Kong police had offered a HK$1-million reward for information leading to Tay's arrest, due to his criticism of Hong Kong's human rights violations. The bounty was condemned by politicians from all parties when it was announced in December 2024.
Carney addressed the comments, calling them "deeply offensive" and a "terrible lapse of judgment." However, he noted that Chiang had apologized both publicly and directly to Tay for the inappropriate remarks. "Chiang has 25 years of experience in the police force and 28 years of defending rights in this community. He will continue with his candidacy," Carney said.
Chiang, a former police officer, also apologized on social media, describing his comments as "deplorable" and admitting his mistake. "As a former police officer, I should have known better. I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments," Chiang wrote.
Despite the apology, Tay, who has been an outspoken critic of Hong Kong’s policies, said he felt unsafe after Chiang's comments. Tay reached out to the RCMP and demanded that Carney remove Chiang from the race. “This situation has left me fearing for my safety,” Tay said. He also called for the termination of Chiang’s candidacy, accusing him of making threatening remarks designed to intimidate him.
Tay, who had already announced he would run in the neighboring Don Valley North riding, criticized Carney’s decision to keep Chiang in the race. Tay’s new campaign comes after controversy surrounding alleged foreign interference in the riding, though an inquiry found no conclusive evidence of Chinese meddling.
On the same day, 13 Hong Konger-Canadian groups released a statement condemning Chiang’s actions. Katherine Leung, from Hong Kong Watch, said allowing Chiang to stay in the race sends a message that the Liberals value "getting out the votes" over defending Canadian values, particularly human rights.
Chiang, who was first elected in 2021, previously served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of diversity and inclusion. His comments, which initially went unnoticed in English media, came to light when the Toronto Association for Democracy in China flagged them to reporters during the campaign.
The Conservative party also called for Chiang’s removal, condemning his support for the bounty. “Paul Chiang’s support for the CCP’s illegal and unjust bounty on a Canadian citizen is shocking,” said Michael Chong, a Conservative candidate.
Markham, where Chiang is based, is home to a large ethnic Chinese population. Over half of the area’s visible minorities are of Chinese descent, and many residents have immigrated from China. This makes Chiang’s comments particularly sensitive, as China has been accused of kidnapping dissidents and extraditing them without due process.
Earlier this month, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that Beijing had executed four Canadians this year, further highlighting the tense relations between Canada and China.
