Crime
Man arrested for arson in connection with fire at historical hotel in Wetaskiwin

From Westaskiwin RCMP
After a joint investigation with Wetaskiwin RCMP General Investigation Section and Wetaskiwin City Fire Services, Wetaskiwin City RCMP have made an arrest in connection with an Arson at the historical Rose Country Inn in Wetaskiwin which occurred on the early morning hours of March 19, 2019.
Benjamin Kopp (37), was arrested Wednesday at a residence in Wetaskiwin without incident.
The following charges have been laid:
• Arson – Damage to property (X2)
• Arson – Disregard for Human Life
Kopp was brought before a Justice and released to appear in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on May 9, 2019.
Working directly with the community has greatly assisted the Wetaskiwin RCMP in arresting the accused.

Original Release: March 19, 2019
Wetaskiwin RCMP on scene of a major structure fire
Wetaskiwin RCMP, along with members of the Wetaskiwin, Camrose, and Millet fire departments, are currently on scene of a major structure fire in Wetaskiwin.
On March 19, 2019 at approximately 6:30 a.m., fire broke out at the historical Rose Country Inn in Wetaskiwin.
Roads in the surrounding area are closed to traffic and motorist are asked to find an alternate route.
No injuries are reported at this time.
2025 Federal Election
Liberal MP Paul Chiang Resigns Without Naming the Real Threat—The CCP

Dan Knight
After parroting a Chinese bounty on a Canadian citizen, Chiang exits the race without once mentioning the regime behind it—opting instead to blame “distractions” and Donald Trump.
So Paul Chiang is gone. Stepped aside. Out of the race. And if you’re expecting a moment of reflection, an ounce of honesty, or even the basic decency to acknowledge what this was really about—forget it.
In his carefully scripted resignation statement, Chiang didn’t even mention the Chinese Communist Party. Not once. He echoed a foreign bounty placed on a Canadian citizen—Joe Tay—and he couldn’t even bring himself to name the regime responsible.
Instead, he talked about… Donald Trump. That’s right. He dragged Trump into a resignation about repeating CCP bounty threats. The guy who effectively told Canadians, “If you deliver a Conservative to the Chinese consulate, you can collect a reward,” now wants us to believe the real threat is Trump?
I haven’t seen Donald Trump put bounties on Canadian citizens. But Beijing has. And Chiang parroted it like a good little foot soldier—and then blamed someone who lives 2,000 miles away.
But here’s the part you can’t miss: Mark Carney let him stay.
Let’s not forget, Carney called Chiang’s comments “deeply offensive” and a “lapse in judgment”—and then said he was staying on as the candidate. It wasn’t until the outrage hit boiling point, the headlines stacked up, and groups like Hong Kong Watch got the RCMP involved, that Chiang bailed. Not because Carney made a decision—because the optics got too toxic.
And where is Carney now? Still refusing to disclose his financial assets. Still dodging questions about that $250 million loan from the Bank of China to the firm he chaired. Still giving sanctimonious speeches about “protecting democracy” while his own caucus parrots authoritarian propaganda.
If you think Chiang’s resignation fixes the problem, you’re missing the real issue. Because Chiang was just the symptom.
Carney is the disease.
He covered for it. He excused it. He enabled it. And now he wants to pose as the man who will stand up to foreign interference?
He can’t even stand up to it in his own party.
So no, we’re not letting this go. Chiang may be gone—but the stench is still in the room. And it’s wearing a tailored suit, smiling for the cameras, and calling itself “leader of the Liberal Party.”
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2025 Federal Election
RCMP Confirms It Is ‘Looking Into’ Alleged Foreign Threat Following Liberal Candidate Paul Chiang Comments

Sam Cooper
The confirmation followed a day of escalating pressure on Canadian law enforcement after The Bureau revealed that the UK-based human rights organization Hong Kong Watch sent a formal letter to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, calling for a criminal investigation into Chiang’s reported remarks.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed late Monday it is actively reviewing the controversy surrounding Liberal MP Paul Chiang’s alleged remarks that appeared to endorse delivering a political rival to a foreign government in exchange for a bounty.
In a statement sent to The Bureau, the RCMP said: “Foreign actor interference, including instances of transnational repression, continues to be a pervasive threat in Canada. The RCMP takes all such reports and allegations seriously and — in close partnership with intelligence, law enforcement and regulatory agencies — dedicates significant resources to combatting and investigating criminal activity related to foreign interference in Canada’s democratic processes.”
“The RCMP is looking into the matter,” the statement continued, “however no specific details can be provided at this time.”
The confirmation followed a day of escalating pressure on Canadian law enforcement after The Bureau revealed that the UK-based human rights organization Hong Kong Watch sent a formal letter to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, calling for a criminal investigation into Chiang’s reported remarks. The comments, made during a January meeting with Chinese-language journalists, suggested that Conservative candidate Joe Tay could be brought to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto to claim a bounty placed on him by the Hong Kong police under Beijing’s National Security Law.
The organization alleged the remarks could constitute “counselling to commit kidnapping” under Canada’s Criminal Code. In their letter, Hong Kong Watch also referenced the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act, which prohibits attempts to coerce or intimidate individuals for the benefit of a foreign state.
While the RCMP’s statement did not confirm the launch of a formal investigation, it emphasized that if “criminal or illegal activities occurring in Canada [are] found to be backed by a foreign state, it is within the RCMP’s mandate to investigate this activity.”
The RCMP said it does not typically disclose information related to ongoing investigations unless charges are laid. Nor will it confirm which individuals may be under protective watch.
Earlier Monday, Tay confirmed that he contacted the RCMP over concerns for his personal safety even before Chiang’s comments became public. Chiang, a former police officer and Liberal candidate in Markham–Unionville, has apologized for the remarks, calling them a “terrible lapse in judgment.”
Meanwhile, more than 40 Hong Kong diaspora organizations based in Canada and abroad issued a joint statement condemning Chiang’s remarks and calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to remove him as a candidate. Carney told reporters in Toronto that Chiang still has his “confidence,” and described the incident as a “teachable moment.”
The RCMP said its “overarching priority is the safety and security of the public,” and encouraged anyone who feels threatened online or in person to report such incidents to their local police. In cases of immediate danger, individuals are urged to call 911.
The statement also pointed to the existence of protective mechanisms for election candidates, including through Elections Canada and the federal government.
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