Carney stands by candidate who suggested turning over political opponent to China

OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Mark Carney is resisting mounting calls for him to fire a candidate who suggested a political opponent should be turned over to Chinese officials in return for a bounty.

Paul Chiang, the incumbent for the Liberals in Markham—Unionville, told a Chinese-language newspaper three months ago that someone could claim a bounty on Conservative candidate Joe Tay if they turned him in to the Chinese consulate.

Hong Kong police have offered a reward of HK$1 million, or about C$180,000, for information leading to the arrest of six activists, including Tay.

Chiang apologized on Friday, calling his comments “deplorable.”

Carney says Chiang’s comments were offensive and a “terrible lapse of judgment” but stood by his candidate, calling him a “person of integrity” who has served his community as a police officer.

A group of 13 Hong Kong-Canadian organizations condemned Chiang’s words, saying they’re “widely seen as legitimizing foreign interference and potentially threatening Tay’s safety.”

The organizations say Chiang’s apology is not enough.

“(The comments) further question Chiang’s commitment to supporting Hong Kong immigrants fleeing authoritarian rule. Anyone who is truly sympathetic to the oppressed Hongkongers will not have made such comments,” said the groups, which include the Toronto Association for Democracy in China.

Tay took to social media Monday to call on Carney to fire Chiang, saying the comments were meant to intimidate him.

“I want to be clear: no apology is sufficient. Threats like these are the tradecraft of the Chinese Communist Party to interfere in Canada,” he wrote.

“Suggesting that people collect a bounty from the Chinese Communist Party to deliver a political opponent to the Chinese consulate is disgusting and must never be condoned.”

Carney faced numerous questions about Chiang at a Monday press conference in Vaughan, Ont., where he was announcing the Liberals’ plan to rapidly scale up homebuilding.

“I am deeply offended by those comments. As I said, they’re a terrible lapse of judgment,” he told reporters.

“I view this as a teachable moment. It underscores the deep respect with which we treat human rights in this country.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called Chiang’s comments “chilling” and “scary” on Monday and said Carney’s decision to stick by Chiang sends a message that his comments were acceptable.

“He’s putting his party ahead of his country in that case. I think that’s wrong, and I think Canadians should find that wrong as well,” Singh said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press