Liberal candidate Paul Chiang, running for re-election in Markham-Unionville, faced backlash after suggesting that people claim a bounty issued by Hong Kong police on Conservative candidate Joe Tay. His comments, made during a Chinese-language media conference, were widely condemned, prompting Chiang to issue an apology, admitting his lapse of judgment. The bounty against Tay, who co-founded a democracy advocacy NGO, highlights ongoing tensions regarding foreign interference in Canadian politics, with government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, decrying such threats.
"To everyone here, you can claim the one-million-dollar bounty if you bring him to Toronto's Chinese consulate," Chiang said, according to the Toronto Association for Democracy in China (TADC).
"The comments I made were deplorable and a complete lapse of judgment on the seriousness of the matter," Chiang, a former police officer, wrote on X. "I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments."
Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the TADC, called Chiang's comments 'shocking.' "Mr. Chiang openly encouraged people to assist in China interference and transnational repression," Kwan said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly denounced the bounties, stating, 'This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad... will not be tolerated.'
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