Former Ontario Liberal minister sides with China on Hong Kong protests

Michael Chan, Ontario’s former trade minister under Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, took to state-run Chinanews to spread his pro-China message.

“I have been thinking, why are these young people so radical, so passionate [and] committed to do these things? And why so many people?, Mr. Chan asked in an interview with the outlet.

Several other things said by Chan lined up with the Chinese government’s narrative around the protests. In the interview Chan peddled the conspiracy theory that “foreign forces” were behind the popular movement. Chan also praised the brutal efforts of the Hong Kong police force, as well as condemnding the pro-democracy movement.

The incident comes shortly after Chan was also a main speaker at a pro-China rally in Markham, Ontario.

“We support Hong Kong’s police strictly handling unrest, Hong Kong’s government carefully defending the rule of law, China’s government carefully observing Hong Kong,” said Chan at the event.

The event took place as a number of other pro-China rallies happened throughout the country and the rest of the world.

Some community members allege that people were paid up to $100 to participate in the rally.