With the federal election just days away, Markham Regional Councillor Joe Li is speaking out against what he calls a lack of transparency and community involvement in how the Conservative and Liberal parties have selected their candidates.
At a news conference held by the Chinese Canadian Conservative Association (CCCA) on April 16, Li — who is also the national chair of the association and a long-time Conservative member — expressed disappointment over both parties’ decisions to handpick candidates for Markham ridings without open nomination processes.
“For two years, we’ve reached out to engage party leadership on the importance of including community voices,” Li said. “But those efforts have been met with silence.”
Li, along with the newly elected CCCA board of directors, criticized the practice of appointing candidates with limited connection to the area. He pointed to the Markham—Unionville riding, where Michael Ma, who previously ran in Don Valley East, is the Conservative nominee. On the Liberal side, Peter Yuen, a former candidate for Scarborough-Agincourt, was selected to run in the same Markham riding.
“This is not just about political strategy — it’s about democratic accountability,” Li stated. “We have many qualified and engaged individuals in our community, especially among visible minorities, who are being overlooked.”
The CCCA emphasized that democracy should extend beyond casting a vote — it must include genuine community participation in the selection of candidates and the shaping of policy.
Eric Wen, national secretary general of the CCCA, echoed this sentiment: “Party members who invest time and money into campaigns deserve a voice in the process. Candidate selection should not be decided behind closed doors.”
Li also revealed that he had sought the Conservative nomination himself, but was unsuccessful. Despite that, he remains committed to advocating for democratic reform and inclusivity — even suggesting he might consider forming a new political party if necessary.
“I’m not afraid of being removed from the party,” Li said defiantly.
He concluded by encouraging voters to reject candidates and parties that promote division or threaten international partnerships, specifically highlighting India and China as key global relationships that deserve careful diplomacy.
