Chinese Communist Party targets Canadian Conservative candidate with threats and intimidation, forcing Joe Tay to suspend his campaign for safety while receiving RCMP protection.
At a Glance
- Joe Tay, a Conservative candidate in Don Valley North, Ontario, has suspended in-person campaigning due to threats linked to the Chinese Communist Party
- Canada’s Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force (SITE) confirmed CCP involvement in an influence operation targeting Tay
- The Hong Kong-born pro-democracy activist faces mock “wanted” posters, online smear campaigns, and has a HK$1 million bounty on him
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is providing security for Tay as the threats escalate
- The Conservative Party condemned the intimidation, stating no candidate should face such threats
Foreign Interference Targeting Conservative Candidate
A federal election-threats watchdog has identified a foreign interference operation from China targeting Joe Tay, a Conservative candidate in Don Valley North, Toronto. The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force (SITE) confirmed the Chinese Communist Party’s involvement in an online campaign against Tay, who fled Hong Kong in 2020 and has been a vocal critic of Beijing’s actions in his homeland.
The operation uses platforms like WeChat, Facebook, RedNote, TikTok, and Douyin to influence Chinese-speaking Canadians against supporting the Conservative candidate.
Intelligence reports have linked one of the Facebook accounts involved in the smear campaign to the Chinese government and pro-PRC entities in Hong Kong. SITE describes this as a transnational repression operation, where authoritarian regimes harass and intimidate critics abroad. The operation includes disparaging content and a mock “wanted” poster of Tay, who is sought by Hong Kong authorities for his criticism of civil rights violations under the Chinese regime.
While Beijing boosts Mark Carney on WeChat, federal officials downplay foreign interference, dodge accountability, and protect the very narrative propped up by the CCP.
As Canadians prepare to head to the polls on April 28, 2025, the federal government is working overtime to… pic.twitter.com/WDDzfefC8D
— Dan Knight (@DanKnightMMA) April 8, 2025
Campaign Suspended Due to Security Concerns
In response to the escalating threats, Joe Tay has been forced to halt his in-person campaign activities. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is working closely with Tay to ensure his safety.
Hong Kong police have placed a bounty of HK$1 million on Tay for allegedly violating a national-security law, further heightening concerns about potential risks to his personal safety. This unprecedented level of foreign interference against a Canadian political candidate has raised alarms about China’s growing efforts to influence democratic processes abroad.
“My priority is the safety of my team and supporters,” said Joe Tay.
The Conservative Party of Canada has issued a strong statement condemning the intimidation against Tay, emphasizing that no candidate should face such threats. The party views these actions as not only an attack on an individual candidate but on Canada’s democratic institutions as a whole. Despite the suspension of in-person events, Tay remains a candidate in the election scheduled for April 28, though his ability to campaign effectively has been severely compromised by the threats.
Impact on Canadian Democracy and Elections
SITE has voiced concerns about the psychological impact of the interference operation on targeted communities, particularly Chinese Canadians. While they believe the overall fairness of the election is not being affected, the agency acknowledges that the interference sows mistrust and division within ethnic communities, causing fear and self-censorship. The operation’s goal appears to be suppressing political participation among those who might support candidates critical of the Chinese government.
Canadian officials have been working to reassure voters of the integrity of the electoral process amid these concerns. Election authorities emphasize that voting remains confidential and secure, with legal protections against vote secrecy breaches. The targeting of Tay is not an isolated incident, as three Liberal Party MP candidates have also withdrawn from the election over foreign interference allegations, highlighting the broader pattern of attempts to influence Canada’s democratic processes by foreign entities.
