Report: Chinese Canadian Voters and the Conservative Surge in the 2025 Federal Election
- Liberty Network
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
April 29，2025
Overview
The 2025 Canadian federal election marked a significant political shift within the Chinese Canadian community, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and parts of British Columbia.
Early results indicate that a majority of Chinese Canadians voted for the Conservative Party, contributing to the flipping of key ridings and the defeat of several controversial candidates associated with foreign influence concerns.
Key Riding Flips
Three critical ridings with substantial Chinese Canadian populations — Markham, Richmond Hill South, and Richmond Centre–Marpole — flipped from Liberal (red) to Conservative (blue).
These ridings had long been considered Liberal strongholds or battlegrounds. However, mounting concerns about national security, foreign interference, and dissatisfaction with the Liberal government’s handling of such threats fueled a major political realignment.
In addition, significant developments in Richmond Centre–Marpole in British Columbia further reflected the growing political awareness and vigilance within Chinese Canadian communities.
Defeat of Pro-CCP-Linked Candidates
Two Liberal candidates associated with pro-Beijing sympathies — Majid Jowhari and Peter Yuen — were notably defeated.
Majid Jowhari – Richmond Hill South
Majid Jowhari, first elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill in 2015, had built his profile around mental health advocacy and engagement with the Iranian Canadian community.
However, his tenure was overshadowed by controversies regarding his perceived pro-CCP sympathies, including calls for closer ties with China despite escalating concerns about Chinese state repression and interference.
His defeat in the newly redrawn Richmond Hill South riding signals growing resistance among voters to candidates perceived as sympathetic to authoritarian regimes.
Peter Yuen – Markham–Unionville
Peter Yuen, a former Deputy Chief of the Toronto Police Service, was selected to replace outgoing MP Paul Chiang as the Liberal candidate for Markham–Unionville.
His candidacy quickly became controversial due to:
Participation in events organized by groups linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front operations.
Public singing of patriotic Chinese songs such as “My Chinese Heart” (《我的中國心》) at community events.
Attendance at a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military parade in Tiananmen Square, raising serious concerns about his political sympathies.
These associations deepened public fears about foreign interference in Canadian politics, particularly among Chinese-speaking voters who have become increasingly vigilant.
As a result, Peter Yuen was decisively defeated despite initial expectations that the Liberals would retain the seat.
Richmond Centre–Marpole: Heightened Vetting and the Fall of Wilson Miao
In Richmond Centre–Marpole, additional developments highlighted how seriously concerns about foreign interference have begun to influence political outcomes:
Two individuals seeking the Conservative nomination, including former Conservative MP Wai Young and David James Wang, were not approved to run.
Part of the reason involved questions regarding their relationships with the Chinese government or their stances on issues of foreign interference, according to reports produced by Liberty Network’s Foreign Interference Monitor (link).
This vetting process reflected a heightened awareness within the Conservative Party about the risks of foreign influence, particularly in ridings with large Chinese Canadian populations.
Meanwhile, the incumbent Liberal MP Wilson Miao was defeated:
According to a February 2023 report by The Globe and Mail, citing classified Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) documents, China’s former consul general in Vancouver, Tong Xiaoling, allegedly claimed to have helped defeat former Conservative MP Alice Wong in the 2021 federal election, paving the way for Wilson Miao’s victory.
Miao’s defeat in 2025 thus marks not only a political turnover but a symbolic repudiation of candidates suspected of benefiting from Chinese government interference.
Exception: Maggie Chi’s Victory in Don Valley North
While Conservatives made significant gains, the Liberals managed to narrowly retain Don Valley North through candidate Maggie Chi:
Maggie Chi replaced Han Dong, the former Liberal MP expelled from caucus amid a major scandal involving allegations of collusion with Chinese diplomats.
Chi’s campaign received visible support from Han Dong himself, former Markham Deputy Mayor Michael Chan, and other Liberal figures associated with pro-Beijing networks.
Given these associations, Maggie Chi’s political activities will require close scrutiny in the future, particularly regarding her stance on foreign interference and national security issues.
Joe Tay – Target of Foreign Interference Efforts
Joe Tay, the Conservative candidate in Don Valley North, became a direct target of foreign interference during the campaign:
China’s United Front organizations reportedly engaged in coordinated efforts to defame and discredit Joe Tay among Chinese-speaking voters.
The disinformation campaigns sought to erode Tay’s support within the community through misleading attacks.
The SITE (Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections) Task Force, a joint Canadian intelligence initiative, officially recognized the disinformation campaign against Joe Tay as an instance of foreign interference.
One particularly concerning example involves a WeChat post written by Marianne Situ, a Senior Interpreter at Public Services and Procurement Canada (a federal government department).
In her post, Situ viciously propagated propaganda and disinformation originating from Communist Party mouthpieces, falsely accusing Joe Tay of being a “notorious Hong Kong separatist long engaged in splittist activities and wanted by authorities”（「長期從事分裂活動而被通緝的臭名昭著的港獨分子」）.
Such actions not only targeted a Canadian candidate exercising democratic rights but also highlighted serious vulnerabilities, with federal public servants amplifying foreign disinformation inside Canadian digital spaces.
Despite facing these aggressive tactics, Joe Tay mounted a strong campaign and significantly narrowed the Liberal margin, demonstrating growing resilience among Chinese Canadian voters against external manipulation.
Broader Community Impact
The defeats of Majid Jowhari, Peter Yuen, and Wilson Miao — alongside the fiercely contested race in Don Valley North — represent not just isolated electoral outcomes but a broader political awakening among Chinese Canadians.
Voters are increasingly prioritizing transparency, national security, and independence from foreign regimes over traditional party loyalties.
At the same time, Chinese Canadian voters are demonstrating greater independence in judgment, becoming less susceptible to manipulation by foreign influence operations.
The Chinese government’s united front efforts, which once sought to covertly shape political outcomes in these communities, have encountered significant resistance and suffered notable setbacks in these ridings.
This shift reflects a maturing political consciousness: defending democracy and safeguarding Canadian sovereignty have become paramount values within the Chinese Canadian community.
Conclusion
The 2025 federal election signals a major realignment in Canadian politics, particularly within the Chinese Canadian community.
The flipping of Markham, Richmond Hill South, and Richmond Centre–Marpole — and the heightened scrutiny surrounding Don Valley North — underscores a growing demand for integrity, vigilance, and protection against foreign interference.
As Chinese Canadians continue to engage more critically and assertively in the democratic process, their influence will play a pivotal role in strengthening and preserving the future of Canada’s democracy.
