--- title: "Han Dong: candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North, Toronto 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/candidates/han-dong" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:10:15.475Z" meta: description: "Han Dong is a candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North. His nomination was filed on June 17, 2026. Official records list him as Member of Prov..." "og:description": "Han Dong is a candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North. His nomination was filed on June 17, 2026. Official records list him as Member of Prov..." "og:title": "Han Dong: candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North, Toronto 2026" "twitter:description": "Han Dong is a candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North. His nomination was filed on June 17, 2026. Official records list him as Member of Prov..." "twitter:title": "Han Dong: candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North, Toronto 2026" --- ** Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North · Toronto 2026 # Han Dong Former Member of Parliament and Member of Provincial Parliament, running for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North. Han Dong is a candidate for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North. His nomination was filed on June 17, 2026. Official records list him as Member of Provincial Parliament for Trinity-Spadina from 2014 to 2018 and as Member of Parliament for Don Valley North from 2019 to 2025. Allegations about him have been reported, and the page gives them with the findings and his denial. Explore priorities Campaign links Researched by voche.me · Not a campaign-authored page Candidate space2026 ![Han Dong, from Finn Long, via Wikimedia Commons.](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/images/candidates/han-dong-640.webp) *Han DongCouncillorv.* [Image: Finn Long, via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Han_Dong,_2020.jpg) [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 01 / Introduction ## About Han Dong Han Dong appears on the City of Toronto's list of certified candidates for Councillor in Ward 23 Scarborough North. A certified candidate is one whose nomination the City Clerk has accepted. The list shows the nomination date as June 17, 2026 and gives his campaign website, votehandong.ca. voche.me treats that site as the campaign's own statement. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario's record lists Han Dong as the Ontario Liberal Party Member of Provincial Parliament for Trinity-Spadina from June 12, 2014 to June 6, 2018. The House of Commons record lists him as Member of Parliament for Don Valley North from October 21, 2019 to April 27, 2025, as a Liberal until March 22, 2023 and as an Independent from that date to the end of his term. These are past public roles, stated from the official records. Ontario municipal candidates have no party on the ballot, and the roles give him no party label for 2026. The Legislative Assembly's page returned HTTP 403 to a direct request, so voche.me read it through a web reader that returned a summary and not the full text. Two sets of allegations about Han Dong have been public, and both are reported here as allegations. In March 2023, Global News published a story alleging that he advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off on freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, two Canadians held in China at the time. He left the Liberal caucus on March 22, 2023, and denied the allegation. The final report of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference, released January 28, 2025, says Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue could not assess the accuracy of the public summary of the intelligence, which was written in English from a conversation held in Mandarin, and then says the classified information "corroborates Mr. Dong's denial of the allegation that he suggested the PRC should hold off releasing Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor." CBC reports that an Ontario Superior Court judge, Justice Paul Perell, found in June 2024 no documented evidence to support the allegations in the Global News articles, and that Dong and Global News settled his defamation lawsuit in June 2025. According to CBC, Global said it "recognizes the findings" of the inquiry's report and that its stories were based on information from confidential intelligence sources. The same report, in its chapter on the 2019 election, describes intelligence "though not firmly substantiated" that irregularities in the Liberal nomination contest in Don Valley North may have included activities by individuals close to officials of the People's Republic of China, including the busing of international students to vote for Han Dong. The report states that Mr. Dong denies any involvement. It says the Commission's mandate is not to determine what happened at that nomination meeting, and that much of the intelligence in the chapter is uncorroborated and should not be taken as proven fact. voche.me read no court or regulator finding on the nomination allegations. His campaign website, the campaign's own statement, presents six commitments that it calls a 101-Day Pledge. They include a lighting audit of every park, path and street, a Ward 23 safety table with 42 Division, a Ward 23 Budget Town Hall before every budget vote, a ward-wide housing consultation, a request for a City staff report on the start date of the Steeles Avenue East widening, and a multilingual constituency office. It says he does not support red priority bus lanes on Finch Avenue East and that he will push for funding of the Sheppard East subway. In a statement reported by CP24 on June 17, 2026, he said he would use his "extensive policy background" to deliver "pragmatic, fiscally responsible solutions". His site also lists, as its own account, a bill he introduced at Queen's Park on elevator repairs and a bill on licensing home inspectors, and a community safety hub at Fairview Mall. The Local's tracker, updated September 21, 2026, gives a similar account of his career and platform. TTCriders' Ward 23 page lists no response from him to its transit questions. Read the sources 02 / The issues ## Priorities & positions Campaign-source summary Summarized from the campaign’s published profile. These are stated positions, not an assessment of results or a complete platform. 01 ### A lighting audit of every park, path and street, as his campaign states His campaign plan page promises a lighting audit of every park, path and street in the ward within his first 100 days, with fixes funded in the first budget. [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge ](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform) 02 ### A ward-wide housing consultation, as his campaign states His plan page promises a ward-wide consultation on housing rules and a community meeting before any major development application reaches City Council. His home page says residents were not asked about the 2025 decision to allow six-unit buildings on single-home streets. [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge ](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform) 03 ### Funding for the Sheppard East subway and the Steeles Avenue East widening, as his campaign states His plan page promises to work for a funded Sheppard East Subway Extension and for a construction start date for the Steeles Avenue East widening east of Tapscott Road. It says he does not support red priority bus lanes on Finch Avenue East. [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge ](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform) 04 ### A budget town hall and a public spending page, as his campaign states His plan page promises a Ward 23 Budget Town Hall before every budget vote and a public page that shows where tax money is spent. [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge ](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform) 05 ### A multilingual constituency office, as his campaign states His plan page promises a constituency office in the ward, open evenings and Saturdays, with every call and email returned within 24 hours. [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge ](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform) [House of Commons · Han Dong, roles current and past]() [Legislative Assembly of Ontario · Han Dong](https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/han-dong) [Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference · Final Report, Volume 1](https://foreigninterferencecommission.ca/fileadmin/report_volume_1.pdf) Research status ## What voche.me has checked Evidence reviewed on October 4, 2026: the City of Toronto's list of certified candidates, three pages of his campaign website (home, plan and results), the House of Commons record of his roles, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's page about him (read as a web reader summary), pages 29 to 31 of Volume 1 of the Final Report of the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference, CBC News on the settlement of his lawsuit, CP24's report of his candidacy, The Local's Ward 23 tracker, TTCriders' and Build Canada's Ward 23 pages, The Green Line's list of events, and the City's Ward 23 councillor page. Every statement taken from his campaign website is written as the campaign's own account. Ward context. The City's Members of Council page for Ward 23 Scarborough North lists Councillor Jamaal Myers. The City's list of certified candidates shows 8 candidates for the ward: Shaun Chen, Han Dong, Sajawal Javed, Kevin Li, Jamaal Myers, John-Mark Oleh, Ronald Phen and Piravena Sathiyanantham. The City Clerk's 2022 declaration of results for Ward 23 Scarborough North lists 3 candidates: Jamaal Myers (5,315 votes, elected), Phillip Francis (2,755) and Virginia Jones (2,333). Of the 8 candidates for 2026, only Jamaal Myers appears by name in those results. TTCriders' Ward 23 page records answers to its 18 transit questions from 2 of the 8: Jamaal Myers and Shaun Chen. Build Canada's Ward 23 page records questionnaire answers from 2 of the 8: Jamaal Myers and John-Mark Oleh. The Green Line's list of candidate debates and forums, dated September 24, 2026, names no event for Ward 23. The City's decisions site (secure.toronto.ca) returned HTTP 403 when voche.me requested it, so no recorded vote or Council decision is cited from it. Gaps. His Instagram profile opened with a web reader and returned only profile details, his Facebook page returned only its title, his X account returned HTTP 402 and his YouTube channel returned only the site footer, so nothing from social media is used. The City's decisions site refused the request (HTTP 403), but no vote is cited because he has held no seat on City Council. voche.me read neither the Global News stories nor the court judgment itself. The court finding is given as CBC reports it. He has not answered Build Canada's questionnaire or TTCriders' questions. The voche.me questionnaire has not been sent. His website also describes his family. voche.me leaves that out. [City of Toronto · list of certified candidates](https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/candidate-list/) [City of Toronto · Councillor Jamaal Myers](https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/members-of-council/councillor-ward-23/) [City Clerk · Declaration of Results, 2022 Toronto municipal election](https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9085-FinalDeclaration-of-Results-for-the-2022-Toronto-Municipal-Election.pdf) [The Local · Ward 23 Scarborough North candidate tracker, updated September 21, 2026](https://thelocal.to/ward-23-scarborough-north-2026/) [TTCriders · Ward 23 Scarborough North candidate responses](https://www.ttcriders.ca/2026ward23) [Build Canada · Ward 23 Scarborough North candidate page](https://www.buildcanada.com/toronto/vote/2026/wards/23) [The Green Line · Find your ward councillor candidates at these Toronto events](https://thegreenline.to/stories/find-councillor-candidate-toronto-2026/) [Han Dong · campaign home page](https://www.votehandong.ca/) [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform) [Han Dong · campaign page of results from his past offices](https://www.votehandong.ca/realresults) [House of Commons · Han Dong, roles current and past]() [Legislative Assembly of Ontario · Han Dong](https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/han-dong) [Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference · Final Report, Volume 1, Report Summary, January 28, 2025](https://foreigninterferencecommission.ca/fileadmin/report_volume_1.pdf) [CBC News · Former MP Han Dong settles defamation lawsuit with Global News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/han-dong-global-settlement-1.7561789) [CP24 · Ex-Liberal MP Han Dong running for Toronto councillor in Scarborough North, June 17, 2026](https://www.cp24.com/politics/toronto-city-hall/2026/06/17/ex-liberal-mp-han-dong-running-for-toronto-councillor-in-scarborough-north/) 03 / Background ## Experience & community June 12, 2014 to June 6, 2018 ### Member of Provincial Parliament for Trinity-Spadina The Legislative Assembly of Ontario's record lists him as an Ontario Liberal Party member, with roles as a parliamentary assistant to three ministers between June 22, 2016 and June 29, 2018. It was read through a web reader summary. [Legislative Assembly of Ontario · Han Dong](https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/han-dong) October 21, 2019 to April 27, 2025 ### Member of Parliament for Don Valley North The House of Commons record lists two terms for Don Valley North, as a Liberal until March 22, 2023 and as an Independent after that date. [House of Commons · Han Dong, roles current and past]() 04 / Questions & answers ## Questions for the candidate Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied. No questions and answers have been supplied. ### Have your own question? Ask Han Dong directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one. 05 / About this page ## Questions about this page Facts voche.me can state about Han Dong's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Han Dong? No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Han Dong's own campaign.
Does Han Dong currently hold public office? Not according to this profile. voche.me has not listed a current public office for Han Dong.
How many sources does this Han Dong profile cite? This profile lists 15 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Han Dong's page show no answer? The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Han Dong in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
When is the election Han Dong is running in? The 2026 Toronto municipal election, including the Councillor race, is decided on October 26, 2026.
06 / Candidate contributions ## Space for campaign updates ### No campaign updates yet Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added. ## Sources & transparency - [City of Toronto · list of certified candidates ](https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/candidate-list/)Checked October 4, 2026 - [City of Toronto · Councillor Jamaal Myers ](https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/members-of-council/councillor-ward-23/)Checked October 4, 2026 - [City Clerk · Declaration of Results, 2022 Toronto municipal election ](https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9085-FinalDeclaration-of-Results-for-the-2022-Toronto-Municipal-Election.pdf)Checked October 4, 2026 - [The Local · Ward 23 Scarborough North candidate tracker, updated September 21, 2026 ](https://thelocal.to/ward-23-scarborough-north-2026/)Checked October 4, 2026 - [TTCriders · Ward 23 Scarborough North candidate responses ](https://www.ttcriders.ca/2026ward23)Checked October 4, 2026 - [Build Canada · Ward 23 Scarborough North candidate page ](https://www.buildcanada.com/toronto/vote/2026/wards/23)Checked October 4, 2026 - [The Green Line · Find your ward councillor candidates at these Toronto events ](https://thegreenline.to/stories/find-councillor-candidate-toronto-2026/)Checked October 4, 2026 - [Han Dong · campaign home page ](https://www.votehandong.ca/)Checked October 4, 2026 - [Han Dong · campaign plan page, My 101-Day Pledge ](https://www.votehandong.ca/platform)Checked October 4, 2026 - [Han Dong · campaign page of results from his past offices ](https://www.votehandong.ca/realresults)Checked October 4, 2026 - [House of Commons · Han Dong, roles current and past ]()Checked October 4, 2026 - [Legislative Assembly of Ontario · Han Dong ](https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/han-dong)Checked October 4, 2026 - [Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference · Final Report, Volume 1, Report Summary, January 28, 2025 ](https://foreigninterferencecommission.ca/fileadmin/report_volume_1.pdf)Checked October 4, 2026 - [CBC News · Former MP Han Dong settles defamation lawsuit with Global News ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/han-dong-global-settlement-1.7561789)Checked October 4, 2026 - [CP24 · Ex-Liberal MP Han Dong running for Toronto councillor in Scarborough North, June 17, 2026 ](https://www.cp24.com/politics/toronto-city-hall/2026/06/17/ex-liberal-mp-han-dong-running-for-toronto-councillor-in-scarborough-north/)Checked October 4, 2026 Missing information does not imply a candidate’s position. [Read our editorial standards.](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/about) Campaign contact ## Campaign links & contact. Find the candidate’s website, social accounts and contact information. [Han Dong · campaign website](https://www.votehandong.ca/) [Han Dong · Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/handongontario/) ## View more candidates. [All candidate spaces ](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/candidates) [Councillor**Aanchal Vashistha**](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/candidates/aanchal-vashistha) [Councillor**Aaron Lal**](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/candidates/aaron-lal) Candidate Q&A ## Ask Han Dong a question. Give your name, email and question. We send it to the campaign, and publish their answer here if we get one. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.