Michael Chan (Canadian politician) explained

Michael Chan
Native Name:陳國治
Office1:Deputy Mayor of Markham
Term Start1:2022
Predecessor1:Don Hamilton
Office2:York Regional Councilor
for Markham
Term Start2:2022
Parliament3:Ontario Provincial
Term Start3:February 8, 2007
Term End3:June 7, 2018
Predecessor3:Tony Wong
Successor3:Billy Pang
Riding3:Markham-Unionville
Markham (2007)
Party:Liberal
Birth Place:Guangzhou, China
Residence:Markham, Ontario
Occupation:Insurance broker

Kwok Chi (Michael) Chan[1] (born) is a Hong Kong Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2007 until 2018. He represented the riding of Markham-Unionville. Chan served as a Cabinet Minister, during his entire tenure in politics in the governments of Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. Michael Chan presently serves as the Deputy Mayor of Markham. Chan has also served as a Senior Business Advisor for the law firm Miller Thomson LLP in Vaughan and as a member of the board of governors at Seneca College.[2]

Background

Chan was born in Guangzhou, and his father was an official in the Kuomintang.[3] As the Chinese Communist Party took power in China, Mr. Chan's family went to Macau,[3] before moving to Hong Kong and eventually migrating to Canada in 1969, when he was 18. Chan has lived in Markham since 1995 where he owned an insurance business before entering politics.

Before entering politics he was president of the federal Liberal Party of Canada riding association for the Markham—Unionville constituency held by MP John McCallum. According to an endorsement on Chan's website, John McCallum and Chan are close friends.[4]

Political career

Chan was elected in a February 8, 2007 by-election, necessitated by the resignation of former Liberal MPP Tony Wong, who left his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to successfully run for York Regional Council in 2006. He was re-elected in 2007, 2011, and 2014.[5] [6] [7]

In February, 2007 he was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Revenue. In October 2007, after the election he was moved to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.[8] In 2010 he was moved again to Minister of Tourism, Culture. A year later the mandate of the ministry was changed slightly to include Sport issues. In November 2012 he assumed the roles Citizenship and Immigration and responsibility for the Pan/Parapan American Games from Charles Sousa when Sousa announced he was running for the leadership of the Liberal Party.

In February 2013, when Kathleen Wynne took over as the new premier, she confirmed Chan in his roles as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.[9] In June 2014, Wynne appointed Chan as the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade.[10] Chan was instrumental in fundraising for the Liberals, as well as being active in the recruitment of Chinese Canadians to campaign for seats at both the federal and provincial levels.[3]

Chan announced his retirement from provincial politics in April 2018, a few months before the next Ontario election.[11] During the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, Chan publicly condemned the pro-democracy protesters and supported the Hong Kong Police Force's response, while attributing the protests to alleged manipulation by foreign actors.[12] [13] In 2019, Chan served as the re-election campaign co-chair for Mary Ng.[14]

In August 2022, Chan registered as a York Region council candidate.[15] He was elected to York Regional council in the 2022 municipal elections, and became deputy mayor of Markham.[16] [17]

Alleged involvement in Chinese government interference

In 2010, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service allegedly became concerned that Chan had become too close to the Chinese consulate in Toronto, prompting a senior federal official to caution the provincial government about his alleged conduct.[18] Former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty and his successor, Kathleen Wynne, both dismissed the allegations against Chan.[18]

In 2015, Chan sued The Globe and Mail for a report that claimed he was the subject an investigation by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for ties to officials in Beijing and susceptibility to influence by the Chinese government.[19] [20] [21] [22] Chan responded that his engagement with the Chinese government was an appropriate aspect of his role as the Minister of Immigration and International Trade in Ontario. Former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne also rejected the accusations against him.[23] Toronto lawyer Ping Tam suggested that Chan was being targeted because he was encouraging young Chinese-Canadians to engage in politics and had supported a failed 2013 agreement between the Toronto District School Board to install Confucius Institutes in local schools.[24] [25] Chan also threatened Alberta premier Jason Kenney with a lawsuit over criticism of Chan's support for Beijing.[26]

On February 24, 2023, Global News reported that its intelligence sources in CSIS had said that Chan had arranged the ouster of Liberal MP Geng Tan in Don Valley North in favour of Han Dong in advance of the 2019 federal election because China was unhappy with what Tan was doing.[27] Sources claim Justin Trudeau and senior Liberal Party officials ignored CSIS warnings about Chan and Dong. Chan, Dong, and the Chinese embassy denied the accusations, with Chan describing the leaks as "outrageous" and possibly contrary to the Security of Information Act. In May 2023, The Globe and Mail reported that CSIS electronically monitored Chan in the run-up to the 2021 Canadian federal election.[28]

It has been alleged by anonymous officials that the Trudeau government may have downplayed warnings about Chan because of fundraising ties to senior party officials. According to one anonymous Greater Toronto Area Liberal party politician, "Michael Chan is involved centrally in decision-making, and the party consults with him and his team... [t]hey are kingmakers of the party, standing behind the scenes and moving their pawns. So if they can produce the money, the party is putty in their hands.”

In December 2023, Chinese dissident and Uyghur rights groups questioned their safety to testify at a planned public inquiry on foreign interference with Chan present.[29]

Electoral record

Notes and References

  1. ONPARLeducation. 1547261235305058304. 13 July 2022 . Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867. The names for the 42nd Parliament were recently added. For the first time a Member's name was inscribed in Oji-Cree syllabics .
  2. Web site: Michael Chan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233334/https://www.millerthomson.com/en/our-people/michael-chan/ . 2019-02-14 . 2019-02-14 . . en-US.
  3. News: Craig Offman . June 17, 2015 . The making of Michael Chan . . live . September 4, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170613041327/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-making-of-michael-chan/article24994796/ . June 13, 2017.
  4. Web site: Chan . Michael . John McCallum . Michael Chan for Regional Councillor . 6 March 2023 . 6 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306031117/https://www.votemichaelchan.ca/endorsements/71/John%20McCallum . live .
  5. Web site: Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate . https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf . dead . October 7, 2009 . Elections Ontario . October 10, 2007 . 2014-03-02 .
  6. Web site: Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate . https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf . dead . March 30, 2013 . Elections Ontario . October 6, 2011 . 2014-03-02 .
  7. Web site: General Election by District: Markham-Unionville . Elections Ontario . June 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140702073618/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=046 . July 2, 2014 .
  8. News: Ferguson . Rob . Benzie . Robert . October 31, 2007 . Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area . A13 . . 5 March 2023 . 23 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523122228/https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/2007/10/31/premier_goes_for_new_blood.html . live .
  9. News: February 12, 2013 . Ontario's new cabinet . A3 . . Kitchener, Ont.
  10. News: Richard Brennan . Robert Benzie . Rob Ferguson . June 24, 2014 . Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare . . live . September 4, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170801032747/https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/06/24/ontario_premier_kathleen_wynnes_new_cabinet_unveiled.html . August 1, 2017.
  11. News: Liberal cabinet ministers Michael Chan and Tracy MacCharles, MPP Grant Crack say they are retiring. Robert. Benzie. April 5, 2018. Toronto Star. April 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180405192305/https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/04/05/liberal-cabinet-ministers-michael-chan-and-tracy-maccharles-mpp-grant-crack-say-they-are-retiring.html. April 5, 2018. live.
  12. News: Blackwell . Tom . 2019-08-21 . Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister headlines pro-Beijing rally near Toronto . en-CA . . live . 2019-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200824004915/https://nationalpost.com/news/former-ontario-liberal-cabinet-minister-headlines-pro-beijing-rally-near-toronto . 2020-08-24.
  13. News: Former Ontario minister sides with Beijing, pins Hong Kong protests on 'outside' forces. Xu. Xiao. September 15, 2019. The Globe and Mail. 2019-09-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20190916032451/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-former-ontario-minister-sides-with-beijing-pins-hong-kong-protests-on/. September 16, 2019. live.
  14. News: Cooper . Sam . October 20, 2019 . Hong Kong Canadians question alleged pro-Beijing backing for prominent Liberal candidate . . October 24, 2019 . 1 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101010028/https://globalnews.ca/news/6055004/hong-kong-canadians-liberal/ . live .
  15. News: Cooper . Sam . August 23, 2022 . Polarizing Chinese-Canadian leader re-enters political arena . 2022-08-29 . . en-US . 29 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220829130500/https://globalnews.ca/news/9071671/michael-chan-re-enters-political-arena/ . live .
  16. News: Fife . Robert . Chase . Steven . 2023-02-13 . CSIS warned Trudeau about Toronto-area politician's alleged ties to Chinese diplomats . en-CA . . 2023-02-13 . 13 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213171101/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-csis-warned-trudeau-about-toronto-area-politicians-alleged-ties-to/ . live .
  17. News: Cooper . Sam . Sam Cooper (journalist) . February 24, 2023 . Liberals ignored CSIS warning on 2019 candidate accused in Chinese interference probe: sources . . live . February 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225065539/https://globalnews.ca/news/9504291/liberals-csis-warning-2019-election-candidate-chinese-interference/ . 25 February 2023.
  18. News: Offman . Craig . 7 July 2016 . Threatening lawsuit, Michael Chan demands apology from Jason Kenney . en-CA . . 13 September 2019 . 16 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216195636/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/threatening-lawsuit-chan-demands-apology-from-kenney/article30815873/ . live .
  19. News: Offman . Craig . June 17, 2015 . The making of Michael Chan . . live . 2019-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814220233/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-making-of-michael-chan/article24994796/ . August 14, 2019.
  20. News: Edmiston . Jake . 2015-06-22 . Michael Chan threatens legal action over Globe report that CSIS investigated his ties to China . en-CA . . live . 2019-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200824004845/https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/michael-chan-threatens-legal-action-over-globe-report-that-csis-investigated-his-ties-to-china . 2020-08-24.
  21. News: Ferguson . Rob . August 7, 2015 . Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan sues Globe and Mail for $4.55 million . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190815222727/https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/08/07/ontario-cabinet-minister-michael-chan-sues-globe-an-mail-for-455-million.html . August 15, 2019 . 2019-08-15 . . en.
  22. Book: John Manthorpe . Claws of the Panda: Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada . Claws of the Panda . 5 January 2019 . Cormorant Books . 978-1-77086-539-6 . 251–255.
  23. News: June 16, 2015 . Premier rejects CSIS claim that China is influencing cabinet minister . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160518104403/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/michael-chan-ontario-minister-defended-by-kathleen-wynne-amid-csis-allegations-1.3115976 . 2016-05-18 . 2019-02-14 . . en.
  24. News: Adler . Mike . 2015-06-30 . Chinese-Canadian organizations demand apologies for stories in Globe and Mail . en-CA . Toronto.com . . live . 2019-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174414/https://www.toronto.com/news-story/5703391-chinese-canadian-organizations-demand-apologies-for-stories-in-globe-and-mail/ . 2019-02-14.
  25. News: August 7, 2015 . Ontario minister Michael Chan sues Globe and Mail for alleging Chinese ties . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190102071308/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-minister-michael-chan-sues-globe-and-mail-for-alleging-chinese-ties-1.3183770 . 2019-01-02 . 2019-02-04 . . en.
  26. News: Offman . Craig . July 7, 2016 . Threatening lawsuit, Michael Chan demands apology from Jason Kenney . . live . 2019-09-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216195636/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/threatening-lawsuit-chan-demands-apology-from-kenney/article30815873/ . February 16, 2017.
  27. News: Onishi . Norimitsu . Norimitsu Onishi . 2023-12-02 . He Won Election to Canada's Parliament. Did China Help? . en-US . . 2023-12-02 . 0362-4331 . 2 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202133542/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/02/world/americas/canada-elections-china.html . live .
  28. News: 2023-05-19 . Bill Blair took months to approve CSIS surveillance of Liberal powerbroker, national-security source says . 2024-04-10 . . en-CA.
  29. News: Fife . Robert . Chase . Steven . 2023-12-06 . Rights activists question safety of testifying at foreign interference inquiry . en-CA . . 2023-12-08 . 8 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208154647/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-rights-activists-question-safety-of-testifying-at-foreign-interference/ . live .

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