Liberal candidate to stay in race despite China bounty remark: Carney

Mark Carney says Paul Chiang can remain a Liberal candidate in the election after apologizing for remarks he made in January about a Conservative candidate.

Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney is facing growing calls to remove an Ontario candidate from running in the federal election after he told people at a news conference they could claim a foreign bounty on another candidate by bringing the individual “to Toronto’s Chinese consulate.”

Paul Chiang, who is seeking re-election as the candidate for the Markham-Unionville riding, apologized last week for comments he made in January about Joe Tay, a Conservative candidate for Don Valley North, who had a bounty placed on him by Hong Kong police last December.

The Toronto Association for Democracy in China said in a news release that Chiang told Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao at a news conference three months ago that everyone at the event could claim the bounty “if you bring him to Toronto’s Chinese consulate.”

At a campaign stop in Vaughan, Ont., on Monday, Carney was asked about keeping Chiang in the race despite calls from the opposition and advocacy groups to remove him.

“The comments were deeply offensive. This is a terrible lapse of judgment by Mr. Chiang,” Carney said, noting that he has issued a direct apology to Tay.

Carney said he also spoke with Chiang over the weekend to “understand his position” and that Chiang will stay in the race.

“He’s apologized for his comments, he’s apologized directly to me, he’s apologized directly to the individual, he has a long record of service and he’s going to continue his candidacy,” Carney told reporters.

“He has my confidence.”