After the announcement of his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced online accusations of violating House rules by participating in legislative voting while in China earlier this year. The allegations, amplified by conservative influencers and some current and former Conservative Members of Parliament, are rooted in videos posted on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, showing Chen in China.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video of Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25, the same day he allegedly voted electronically six times in the House of Commons. Concerns were raised about potential breaches of national security if Chen voted remotely from China. Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for answers regarding Chen’s actions.
House of Commons regulations explicitly prohibit MPs from voting while outside of Canada, including electronic votes. The rules mandate visual confirmation of members’ identities through facial recognition technology, ensuring votes are cast only within Canada. Technical controls and validation processes overseen by House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s office are in place to prevent voting activity originating from abroad.
Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22, returning to Canada for a House of Commons session on March 23 after the spring recess. Evidence provided by Chen’s office, including a boarding pass and visa stamps in his passport, corroborated his travel dates. It was emphasized that Chen did not vote from outside Canada, attributing his resignation to persistent health issues affecting his ability to travel regularly to Ottawa.
Regarding his trip to China, Chen participated in official parliamentary business with the Canada-China Legislative Association. The journey was sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association, chaired by Markham Coun. Joe Li, with measures in place to address potential cybersecurity risks during Chen’s travel. The Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosed details of Chen’s trip, which included lodging for seven nights from March 14 to 22.
Critics, including Lee, questioned Chen’s ability to travel to China while citing health issues as a barrier to commuting to Ottawa. Chen’s resignation, planned for the upcoming month, follows a vehicle accident he experienced while traveling between Toronto and Ottawa last fall.