TORONTO, ON – A Liberal MP has issued a public apology after making inflammatory comments encouraging residents in his Toronto-area riding to turn in Conservative candidate Joe Tay to the Chinese consulate to claim a $183,000 bounty placed on him by Hong Kong police. The timing of the bounty, announced in December 2024, has raised concerns that it was deliberately designed to interfere with Canada’s federal election, set for April 28th, particularly in the Markham—Unionville riding with its significant ethnic Chinese population.
Paul Chiang, the Liberal MP for Markham—Unionville, made the remarks in January 2025 during a news conference covered by Ming Sheng Bao, the Canadian subsidiary of Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao. Referring to the $1 million HKD bounty (approximately $183,000 CAD) placed on Tay, Chiang reportedly said, “If you can take him to the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, you can get the million-dollar reward.” At the time, Tay was a contender for the Conservative nomination in Chiang’s riding, though he has since shifted to run in Don Valley North.
China critics argue that the bounty’s timing was no coincidence. Announced just months before the Canadian election campaign gained momentum, it targeted Tay, one of six overseas activists named by Hong Kong authorities, alongside two Canadians, for their pro-democracy advocacy. In Markham—Unionville, a riding with a large ethnic Chinese community, the move was seen as an attempt by Beijing to undermine Tay’s candidacy and sow discord among voters. Tay’s LinkedIn page addresses the “outrageous arrest warrant and bounty,” vowing to resist “this attempt at transnational repression and intimidation.”
The controversy escalated when Chiang’s comments came to light on March 28, 2025, prompting swift backlash. Conservative MP Michael Chong condemned the remarks, posting on X: “Liberal candidate Paul Chiang in Markham-Unionville called for a Conservative candidate to be turned over to the authoritarian regime in Beijing in return for a CCP bounty. This is outrageous, and it’s no accident.” Chong demanded that Liberal Leader Mark Carney disavow Chiang’s statement and remove him as a candidate, arguing that it endangered Canadians, particularly those of Chinese descent targeted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Chiang responded with an apology on X on March 28, stating, “The comments I made were deplorable and a complete lapse of judgment on the seriousness of the matter. As a former Police Officer, I should have known better. I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments.” Neither Chiang’s team nor the Liberal Party responded to requests for further comment from The Canadian Press.
The bounty’s strategic timing aligns with broader concerns about foreign interference in Canadian elections. Hong Kong’s move in December 2024 came as Tay was positioning himself as a Conservative contender in a riding where ethnic Chinese voters could play a decisive role. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly had previously denounced the bounties in December, stating, “This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated.” Critics, including the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, called Chiang’s remarks “shocking,” amplifying fears of Beijing’s influence extending into Canadian politics.
As the federal election approaches, the incident underscores the vulnerability of Canada’s democratic processes to foreign pressure. Tay, now running in Don Valley North, remains a symbol of resistance against such interference, while Chiang’s apology has done little to quell concerns about the Liberal Party’s handling of the situation. The episode highlights how the Hong Kong bounty, timed to coincide with Canada’s electoral cycle, has reverberated far beyond its initial target, igniting a firestorm in an already contentious campaign.
