Canadian police initiated a review of campaign complaint.

By Sam Cooper | The Bureau

In one of the most closely scrutinized races of Canada’s 2025 federal election, Joseph Tay—the Conservative candidate identified by federal authorities as the target of aggressive Chinese election interference operations—was defeated Monday night in Don Valley North by Liberal Maggie Chi, following a campaign marred by threats, suspected intimidation, and digital suppression efforts.

Summary

Federal authorities have confirmed Joseph Tay was subjected to a transnational repression campaign orchestrated by Chinese operatives. The campaign included cyberattacks to suppress his messaging on Chinese-language platforms and disinformation labeling him as a “fugitive” due to a $180,000 Hong Kong bounty (Tay is wanted under Hong Kong’s National Security Law).

Days before the April 28 election, Tay’s team reported being followed by an individual in a menacing manner while door-knocking, prompting an RCMP review. Citing threats, police advised Tay to halt canvassing—a rare precaution underscoring the severity of the risk. The New York Times noted Tay ran “perhaps the quietest campaign of any canadidate competing in the election” because of fears for his safety.

The tactics aimed at thwarting Tay’s election success mirror the 2021 defeat of Conservative MP Bob Saroya in Markham–Unionville, where Chinese-linked operatives allegedly surveilled his campaign. This year, Conservative Michael Ma flipped Markham–Unionville from Liberals, defeating Paul Chiang’s replacement after Chiang withdrew amid backlash for joking about Tay’s bounty.

The race on Monday saw Joseph Tay secure 43% of the vote (20,000+ ballots), nearly doubling his party’s 2021 tally but falling short against rival candidate Maggie Chi’s 53%. Despite the loss, Tay vowed to continue advocating for “freedom, respect, and community,” signaling a potential future run. In a post-election statement, he emphasized moral victory: “We have already won something far greater—the courage to stand, to speak, and to dream together.”

Read the report at the publisher’s website here.