Xiao Hua Gong

Xiao Hua Gong (; born ), also known as Edward Gong, is a Chinese-Canadian businessman, perennial candidate, and former theatre director. Gong served as deputy director of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade from 2013 to 2016. He is the owner of Canada National Television (CNTV), a Chinese-language TV station based in Markham, Ontario.

In 2023, he ran for mayor of Toronto, finishing 11th with 2,983 votes (0.4% of votes cast). During the campaign, media queried the quantity and cost of his election advertising.

Gong also ran in the 2024 Mississauga mayoral by-election, where he placed ninth. Gong was eligible to run according to a representative as he is a property owner in the city.

Gong ran in the 2025 Canadian federal election in Don Valley North as an independent. Gong acquired hotels in Toronto and Michigan, including the Edward Hotel & Convention Center, and started two Chinese-language television stations. The group is shown making dumplings, Gong's presence drew attention to Trudeau's cash-for-access dealings.

Pyramid scheme Starting in 2017, Gong was investigated by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, the New Zealand Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada over his financial dealings. According to the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), Gong allegedly fraudulently sold stock in O24, his health-supplements company, to people in China, and stored $140 million in Canadian bank accounts, and most of the remainder in New Zealand bank accounts.

2023 Toronto mayoral run In 2023, Gong ran for Mayor of Toronto, with campaign promises including hiring 1,000 new police officers, cutting property taxes by $1,000 and making public transit free to ride for riders aged over 55 or under 18.

During the campaign, media queried the quantity and cost of his election advertising,

Gong finished 11th with 2,983 votes (0.4% of votes cast). The following day, Gong questioned the results and called for a recount on Twitter.

In Student Vote Toronto, a mock by-election, 21.7 percent of participating elementary and secondary students voted for Gong placing him in second place after Olivia Chow with 23.4 percent. Some schools voted Gong by over 50 percent.

2024 Mississauga mayoral run Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga, was elected the Ontario Liberal Party leader in December 2023. Subsequently, she announced her resignation as mayor the next day, vacating the seat in January. The 2024 Mississauga mayoral by-election was soon called.

Gong registered as a mayoral candidate on the second last day for registration. A spokesperson told the Toronto Star newspaper that Gong owns property in the city, qualifying him for the run.

2025 Canadian federal election In the 2025 Canadian federal election, Gong ran as an MP with no party affiliation in the Don Valley North Riding. He finished with 260 votes (0.5%), putting him last place in the riding.

Yet in Student Vote Canada 2025, the mock student election, Gong finished third with 13.62% of the vote, ahead of the New Democrat candidate.

2026 Toronto mayoral election On May 6, he registered for the 2026 Toronto mayoral election.

Electoral record Federal

Municipal