After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced allegations of voting on legislation while in China earlier this year. The accusations, fueled by right-wing influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, centered on videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same day he voted electronically in the House of Commons.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video of Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25th, the same day he cast six electronic votes in the House. Concerns were raised about the potential breach of national security if Chen voted remotely from China. Conservative MP John Barlow shared a thread questioning Chen’s actions, emphasizing the need for answers beyond the travel itself.
Referencing House of Commons standing orders, which prohibit MPs from voting outside Canada, Barlow pointed out the violation. While speculation arose that Chen voted on Bill C-9, the hate crime legislation, while in China, Lee acknowledged the possibility of edited videos but stressed the legitimacy of questioning Chen’s voting location.
The House rules explicitly forbid MPs from participating in votes while abroad, restricting electronic voting to within Canada. The regulations mandate visual confirmation of a member’s identity through facial recognition technology during electronic voting. The Speaker’s office affirmed the existence of technical controls and validation processes to ensure MPs are physically present in the country when voting.
Chen’s office clarified that he traveled to China from March 14 to 22 and returned for the House sitting on March 23. Supporting evidence included Chen’s boarding pass showing his return flight from Taipei to Toronto on March 22. Additionally, visa stamps in Chen’s passport validated his travel dates to and from China.
In response to the allegations, Chen’s office emphasized that he did not vote from outside Canada due to significant health issues affecting his travel to Ottawa. Chen’s resignation announcement cited health concerns stemming from a vehicle accident, prompting his decision to step down next month.
Critics, including Lee, questioned Chen’s ability to travel to China but not to Ottawa, especially considering his health condition. The trip to China was organized by the Hakka Canadian Association and involved cybersecurity evaluations by House of Commons IT staff. Details of the trip, including accommodations and sponsorship, were disclosed by the Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.