By Dara Jerde
Paul Chiang, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville, has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming federal election following a firestorm of criticism over comments he made about a political rival. The decision, announced late on March 31, 2025, caps a tumultuous 48 hours for the Liberal Party, which has been grappling with the fallout from Chiang’s remarks and their implications for Canada’s political landscape.
The controversy erupted after a January press conference with the Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao, where Chiang suggested that people should take Conservative candidate Joe Tay to the Chinese consulate in Toronto to claim a HK$1 million (approximately CAD$183,000) bounty. The bounty had been placed on Tay, a prominent pro-democracy activist critical of the Chinese government, by Hong Kong police. Chiang’s comments were widely interpreted as flippant at best and threatening at worst, igniting a fierce backlash from across the political spectrum.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was quick to denounce Chiang, accusing him of endangering Tay’s life and calling the remarks “unforgivable.” Poilievre claimed that Tay, who has been a vocal critic of Beijing’s crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, now feared for his safety. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh echoed the sentiment, labeling the comments “chilling” and questioning why Liberal Leader Mark Carney had not immediately removed Chiang from the party’s slate. Human rights advocates and members of Canada’s Hong Kong diaspora also condemned the statement, with several groups urging Elections Canada to disqualify Chiang over concerns of foreign interference.
Initially, Carney stood by his candidate, describing Chiang as a “person of integrity” who had made a “terrible lapse of judgment.” In a press conference on March 30, Carney called the incident a “teachable moment” for the party, acknowledging the remarks as “deeply offensive” but resisting calls for Chiang’s outright dismissal. Chiang himself issued an apology, calling his words “deplorable” and expressing regret to Tay and others affected. However, the apologies did little to quell the growing outrage.
The situation escalated further on March 31 when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed it was investigating whether Chiang’s statements violated laws related to national security or foreign interference. The announcement added a layer of legal gravity to what had already become a political liability for the Liberals, who were attempting to pivot their campaign toward economic issues and a robust response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies.
By the evening of March 31, Chiang announced his withdrawal from the race via a statement posted to X. “I do not want to distract from the critical work the Liberal Party is doing to address the issues that matter most to Canadians,” he wrote, citing the need to focus on protecting the economy and standing up to external pressures. His exit came just hours after the RCMP’s investigation went public and coincided with a major Liberal housing policy announcement that had been overshadowed by the scandal.
The timing of Chiang’s departure raises questions about the Liberal Party’s handling of the crisis. Critics argue that Carney’s initial reluctance to act decisively may have prolonged the damage, allowing opponents to seize on the issue. Poilievre wasted no time, framing the incident as evidence of Liberal weakness on national security, while Singh accused the party of prioritizing political optics over accountability.
For Joe Tay, the episode underscores the risks faced by activists challenging authoritarian regimes from Canadian soil. His candidacy, already a lightning rod due to his outspoken criticism of China, has now taken on new significance as a test of Canada’s commitment to protecting free expression.
As the federal election approaches, Chiang’s withdrawal leaves the Liberals scrambling to regroup in Markham-Unionville, a riding they’ve held since his by-election win in 2022. The party has yet to name a replacement candidate, and the incident may linger as a cautionary tale of how quickly a single misstep can derail a campaign in an increasingly polarized political climate. For now, the focus shifts to whether Carney can steer his party back to its core message—or if this scandal will cast a longer shadow over the Liberals’ electoral prospects.
Dara Jerde is a a freelance writer for Veritas Expositae
You can reach her at dara.jerde@veritasexpositae.com
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