An explosive report by the Toronto Association for Democracy in China alleges that Liberal incumbent candidate Paul Chiang called for a Conservative candidate to be returned to communist China for a bounty.
The report has prompted condemnation online, including from Conservative MP and candidate Michael Chong.
Chiang is running for re-election in Markham-Unionville and was quoted in a Chinese-language media outlet allegedly suggesting that somebody “can claim the one-million-dollar bounty” if a Conservative candidate, Joe Tay, is “brought to Toronto’s Chinese Consulate.”
National security experts, opposition figures and anti-CCP Canadians have condemned the alleged comments.
Chiang allegedly made the comments to the CCP-funded Hong Kong-based outlet Ming Pao.
Tay, a candidate running in Don Valley West, has been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party and reports have indicated the Chinese authorities have placed a bounty on Tay to be captured.
The bounty, reportedly worth HK$1 million, had been issued by CCP-influenced Hong Kong authorities, although no further details have been provided on the specific nature of the reward.
This situation follows a series of allegations of foreign interference, particularly from China, which have come to light in recent years.
Chong, the Conservative MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, has been a staunch advocate in the fight against Chinese interference in Canadian democracy.
He has long criticized the Liberals for what he perceives as their failure to act decisively in response to these threats.
Chong commented, “It’s outrageous that after years of turning a blind eye to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) foreign interference, warnings from experts, and a public inquiry, that the Liberals continue to play footsie with foreign interference, putting the security of Canadians at risk.”
He continued saying, “This is part of a long-time pattern of Liberals neglecting Canada’s national security in favour of their own partisan interests.”
Chiang was previously endorsed by and received positive coverage from Sing Tao, another China-aligned Hong Kong paper, detailing his civil awards in Canada and celebrating his political accomplishments in becoming a Canadian MP.
Paul Chiang has since made a vague statement in regret of his comments, calling them “a lapse of judgement.”