Liberal Leader Mark Carney has confirmed that Paul Chiang will remain the Liberal candidate for Markham–Unionville despite mounting backlash over controversial remarks he made about Conservative candidate Joe Tay. Speaking during a housing announcement on Monday, Carney addressed growing calls for Chiang’s disqualification, reaffirming his support for the former York Regional Police officer, who has served in the community for over two decades.
Chiang’s remarks, originally made in a Chinese-language interview in January, suggested that Conservative opponent Joe Tay could be handed over to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. Tay is one of six activists targeted by Hong Kong authorities under China’s National Security Law. In December 2024, Hong Kong police issued a reward of HK$1 million (approximately C$180,000) for information leading to Tay’s arrest.
Tay, who is known for his pro-democracy advocacy and opposition to Hong Kong’s human rights abuses, has expressed concerns for his safety following the emergence of Chiang’s remarks. He revealed that he had already contacted the RCMP before the comments became public and has since urged Carney to remove Chiang from the Liberal slate, calling the remarks “intimidating” and “insidious.”
Carney described Chiang’s comments as “deeply offensive” and a “terrible lapse of judgment,” but maintained that the candidate has taken full responsibility, issued a public apology, and also apologized personally to Tay. “He has served the community for 28 years and will continue with his candidacy,” Carney said.
Chiang, who was first elected in 2021 and served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of diversity and inclusion, acknowledged the seriousness of the issue in a social media post last Friday. “As a former police officer, I should have known better,” he wrote. “I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments.”
Thirteen organizations representing Hong Kong-Canadians issued a joint statement condemning Chiang’s remarks, saying they reflect poorly on the Liberal Party’s commitment to protecting human rights. Katherine Leung from Hong Kong Watch criticized the party’s decision to keep Chiang, suggesting it prioritizes electoral strategy over core Canadian values.
The Conservative Party also issued a strong statement calling for Chiang’s removal, with candidate Michael Chong accusing Chiang of supporting a foreign regime’s illegal targeting of a Canadian citizen.
Tay, who is now running in Don Valley North, a riding previously held by former Liberal MP Han Dong, has been under scrutiny as part of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference. While no definitive link to Chinese government interference was established in that riding, concerns over Beijing’s influence remain high.
Human rights groups have continued to sound the alarm over China’s international actions. Earlier this month, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed that four Canadian citizens have been executed in China since the start of the year, intensifying concerns around Beijing’s global reach and treatment of dissidents.
Chiang remains one of approximately 300 Liberal candidates already nominated for the upcoming federal election, with the party still finalizing slates in the remaining ridings ahead of the April 7 deadline. According to Statistics Canada, over 70 per cent of Markham’s population identifies as people of colour, and more than half of the visible minority population are of Chinese descent, many of whom immigrated directly from China.
