Welcome to the Peoples' Republic of Canada federal election.
Video has surfaced on X of disgraced Chinese Liberal candidate Paul Chiang calling for the mistreatment and possible kidnapping of Conservative candidate Joe Tay.
Chiang dropped out of the April 28 federal election on Tuesday after the RCMP said it is investigating. Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the resignation, saying it was time to "move on" and that he would "leave it at that."
The one-minute clip shows Chiang speaking at a January news conference with Chinese-language media in Toronto. In the video, he suggests that Tay, then seeking the nomination in Chiang's riding of Markham–Unionville, could be turned over to the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto to claim a million-dollar bounty.
The comment, which drew laughter from the audience, refers to a Hong Kong arrest warrant and bounty issued against Tay in December for his pro-democracy activism.
The RCMP confirmed Tuesday it is investigating whether Chiang's remarks violate the Criminal Code or the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act.
The investigation was initiated after a pro-democracy group urged the RCMP to examine if the comments constitute a legal breach by suggesting the kidnapping of Tay, a Canadian citizen. Tay, now running for the Conservatives in Don Valley North, is a co-founder of the Canada-based NGO HongKonger Station and operates a YouTube channel advocating for democracy.
The Hong Kong bounty against him is valued at approximately CDN $184,000.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed the issue during a campaign stop in Saint John, N.B., on Monday.
"Joe Tay is extremely afraid. He's afraid for his life," said Poilievre, suggesting the remarks may be criminal for encouraging action against a Canadian by a hostile foreign government.
Chiang posted an apology on X on March 31, stating, "I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments," and expressed support for Hong Kong's human rights struggle.
However, the apology did little to mitigate the criticism, and Chiang announced his withdrawal from the Markham–Unionville race, where he had been seeking re-election.
Reactions on X were swift, with users condemning Chiang's comments. One user described him and those who laughed at the event as "pure scumbags," while others called him a "CCP [Chinese Communist Party] agent," highlighting concerns about foreign interference in Canadian politics.
Chiang's exit has cast a shadow over the Liberal campaign, raising questions about candidate vetting as the election nears, while the RCMP continues its investigation into the incident.