Liberal candidate Paul Chiang has announced his resignation from the 2025 election race in Markham-Unionville, citing the need to avoid distractions as the party prepares to challenge US President Donald Trump’s policies.

His decision comes amid intense criticism over his January remark that suggested a bounty could be claimed for Conservative candidate Joe Tay by handing him over to Chinese authorities.

“I am proud of what we have achieved together and I remain deeply grateful for the trust placed in me,” Chiang said in a statement released on Monday evening. “This is a uniquely important election with so much at stake for Canadians. As the Prime Minister and Team Canada work to stand up to President Trump and protect our economy, I do not want any distractions in this critical moment. That’s why I’m standing aside as our 2025 candidate in our community of Markham-Unionville.”

Chiang’s resignation comes after mounting pressure from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who slammed Prime Minister Mark Carney for refusing to drop Chiang despite his statement. At a rally on Monday, Poilievre said, “I find it incredible that Mark Carney would allow someone to run for his party that called for a Canadian citizen to be handed over to a foreign government on a bounty … What does that say about whether Mark Carney would protect Canadians?”

Chiang, a former police officer, had made his remarks at a news conference in Chinese, stating that if someone brought Tay, a Conservative candidate in Don Valley North, to the Chinese consulate in Toronto, they could claim a $1-million Hong Kong dollar bounty—equivalent to about $183,000 CAD. 

Carney initially defended Chiang and stood by his candidate, calling the situation a “teachable moment” and a “terrible lapse in judgment,” while praising his past service. 

Joe Tay has remained steadfast in his condemnation of Chiang’s remarks. In his official statement, Tay called the comments “threatening public statements… intended to intimidate me.” He dismissed any notion of a simple mistake, stating, “No apology is sufficient.”

The backlash against Chiang also reignited scrutiny of Carney’s own ties to China. Poilievre has called out Carney for being “deeply conflicted” due to his past dealings with Chinese financial institutions, including a $276 million loan for Brookfield Asset Management secured through meetings with Chinese central bank officials in late 2024.

With Chiang stepping down, the Liberals will need to find a new candidate for Markham-Unionville.