Liberal candidate Paul Chiang withdraws from race after suggesting people claim China's bounty on Conservative

Embattled Toronto-area Liberal candidate Paul Chiang is dropping out of the race just hours after the RCMP told CBC News it's looking into whether he broke the law by suggesting people turn a Conservative candidate running in a nearby riding into the Chinese consulate to collect a bounty. 

"As the prime minister and Team Canada work to stand up to President [Donald] Trump and protect our economy, I do not want there to be distractions in this critical moment," Chiang wrote just before midnight on Monday in a statement posted to social media site X. 

"That's why I'm standing aside as our 2025 candidate in our community of Markham-Unionville."

It comes after Liberal Leader Mark Carney said on Monday that Chiang could stay on after apologizing for his "deeply offensive comments" and "terrible lapse of judgment."

Pressure mounted from opposition parties and more than 40 organizations demanding Carney immediately drop Chiang and for police to investigate. 

Chiang, a former police officer, called his own comments "deplorable" after news broke that he suggested to Chinese-language media at a news conference in January that people could hand over Joe Tay to the Chinese consulate for a reward offered by police in Hong Kong.

Tay was seeking the party's nomination in Chiang's riding at that time, and is now running in Don Valley North. In December, Hong Kong police released an arrest warrant and bounty for Tay worth more than $180,000. The Liberal government denounced these types of warrants last year as an attempt to intimidate critics abroad. 

Tay runs a YouTube channel that promotes democracy and free speech, and is the co-founder of Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Monday Tay is "afraid for his life." 

Tay also spoke out online, saying he didn't accept Chiang's apology and that he had been in touch with the RCMP about personal protection. 

Carney defended Chiang as 'person of integrity'

Hong Kong Watch, an NGO focused on human rights issues, wrote a letter to the RCMP Commissioner on Monday calling for a police investigation to see whether Chiang he broke the law. 

Activist Gloria Fung also said she wanted the police to find out whether Chiang's conduct has violated any provisions involved with foreign interference laws. 

Chiang won his riding in 2021 and said he's served his community with his "fullest commitment to keeping people safe and protecting our country's values."

"Every single day, I served with integrity and worked to deliver results for the people of my community," Chiang wrote on X. 

WATCH | Carney reacts to Liberal candidate Paul Chiang dropping out of election race 

Carney reacts to Liberal candidate Paul Chiang dropping out of election race

25 days ago

Duration 0:45

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, speaking from Winnipeg on Day 10 of the election campaign, says he accepted the resignation of now former Liberal candidate Paul Chiang from the race after Chiang said Conservative candidate Joe Tay should be turned in to the Chinese Consulate in exchange for a bounty.

Earlier in the day, the Liberal leader defended Chiang as a "person of integrity" who is a long-time former police officer with "more than a quarter-century of service to his community."

Asked Tuesday whether he made a mistake in defending Chiang, Carney repeated that the comments were "deeply troubling and regrettable."

"He offered his resignation last night. I accepted it," Carney said from Winnipeg. "We will move on with looking for a new candidate for Markham."