Michael Chan's plan to protect and enhance Markham

Improve government efficiency, reduce debt, respect taxpayer dollars to improve affordability, and develop innovative revenue-generating initiatives to offset taxpayer burden
Streamline procedures and significantly cut the bureaucratic red tape that seriously impedes the urgent need to increase the supply of affordable senior housing
Continue a past practice of frequent outreach to York Regional Police to promote the values of inclusion and cohesiveness and strengthen collaboration on safety protective initiatives, including neighbourhood watch programs
Build momentum to advance progress with transportation, housing, common-sense planning, cutting-edge innovation, economic growth, and gridlock remediation
Enact workable solutions that manage and balance the pressures of intense development so that residents can live, work and play close to home in a green Markham

Michael Chan

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.

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.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 (8] In June 2014, Wynne appointed Chan as the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Intemational Trade. [9] 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.

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 govemment Chan responded that his engagement with the Chinese govemment 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. 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.Chan also threatened Alberta premier Jason Kenny with a lawsuit over criticism of Chan's support for Beijing.

Chan announced his retirement from provincial politics in April 2018, a few months before the next Ontario election.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.

In August 2022, Chan registered as a York Region council candidate. He was elected to York Regional council in the 2022 municipal elections.