Canada

Canada: Liberal Replacement Candidate Linked to Pro-Beijing Groups, Events

APR 12 2025·Updated APR 28 2025

Story

Above: A guard tries to block photos being taken as he and a policeman patrol outside the Canadian embassy in Beijing on Jan. 14, 2019. Image credit: GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

Peter Yuen, a former Toronto deputy police chief, was appointed as the Liberal candidate for Markham-Unionville last Saturday, replacing Paul Chiang who resigned after suggesting a Conservative opponent could be turned over to Chinese authorities for a bounty.
Liberal Party of Canada
National Post
The Globe and Mail
In September 2015, Yuen attended a military parade in Beijing celebrating China’s WWII victory over Japan, with his accommodation allegedly arranged by the CCP’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office. Yuen claims the Toronto Police approved the trip as part of a broader effort to recognize Canada’s role in the war.
National Post
The Globe and Mail
As of April 2025, Yuen was listed as an honorary director of the Jiangsu Commerce Council of Canada (JCCC), an organization with documented ties to China's United Front Work Department, though Yuen said in a statement that his role ended a decade ago.
The Globe and Mail
Rebel News
The Globe and Mail
In 2024, Yuen joined the board of NOIC Academy, a Markham-based school flagged in Canada’s foreign interference inquiry after CSIS intelligence suggested Chinese international students were pressured by Beijing’s consulate to vote a certain way in the 2019 election under threat to their visas and families.
National Post
Todayville
The Bureau
The Liberal Party maintains that Yuen underwent a robust vetting process before his appointment. Yuen has declined to answer questions about his stance on Taiwan's self-determination or China's treatment of Uyghurs.
The Globe and Mail
Liberal Nominations Process
The news about Yuen follows Canada's Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force reporting earlier in the week an alleged Beijing-linked information operation attempting to shape public opinion about Liberal leader Mark Carney among Chinese-Canadians. Beijing dismissed the report as a "groundless smear and attack" and maintained it has never interfered in Ottawa's internal affairs.
Global News
The Globe and Mail
Reuters

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Opposition narrative

The appointment of Yuen after Paul Chiang's resignation represents a concerning pattern of Liberal candidates with ties to Beijing-friendly organizations, raising serious questions about foreign interference in Canadian politics and the party's vetting process. The candidate's participation in CCP-linked events and organizations, combined with his refusal to denounce China's actions, suggests potential compromise of Canada's democratic institutions.

Rebel News

Badhijabi

Liberal Party narrative

Peter Yuen's decades-long public service career as a former Deputy Police Chief make him well-qualified to serve as a parliamentarian. His participation in international events and community organizations reflects standard diplomatic engagement and cultural exchange. Questioning his loyalty to Canada is a baseless smear—Peter’s commitment to public safety, community, and Canada’s values is unwavering and proven.