Liberal MP who suggested collecting a Chinese bounty on opponent runs for Markham council

Chiang withdrew from the 2025 federal election after suggesting a Conservative candidate could be turned over to the Chinese consulate for a Hong Kong bounty.

Sep 16, 2026

Former Liberal MP Paul Chiang is seeking election as Markham’s regional councillor in Ontario’s upcoming municipal election.

Chiang, who represented Markham–Unionville from 2021 until Parliament dissolved ahead of last year’s federal vote, has registered as a candidate in Markham. His campaign material highlights his 28 years as a police officer and former service as a federal Member of Parliament without mentioning the significant backlash he received during his 2025 federal election campaign.

At a Chinese-language media event in January 2025, Chiang suggested that members of the public could take Conservative candidate Joe Tay to the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto to collect a HK$1-million bounty issued by Hong Kong police.

Tay, a Canadian citizen and pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, was among activists targeted by Hong Kong authorities under its national security law.

The comments emerged publicly during the election campaign and prompted widespread criticism. Chiang apologized, calling his remarks “deplorable,” and withdrew as the Liberal candidate for Markham–Unionville on March 31, 2025.

The RCMP was asked to investigate the remarks after a complaint was filed.

In a campaign video posted on Urdu social media, Chiang says he was born in Pakistan. He again mentions his experience in the police service but omits details from the last federal election.

Tay is also currently running for Markham regional councillor. Angie Tay, his wife, provided a statement to Juno News.

"When Paul publicly suggested handing my husband's life over to an authoritarian regime, it was far more than a harmless joke. Coming from a former police officer and a sitting lawmaker, such statements are entirely unacceptable, and no wife would ever accept that excuse,” she said.

“Shortly after his comment went public, the RCMP showed up at our door to inform us they had intercepted a credible threat against Joe's life. To this day, whenever we run into him at events, I cannot stop thinking about the trauma he brought into our lives."