Liberal Member of Parliament Shaun Chen faced online accusations after announcing his resignation from the House of Commons. Allegations surfaced that he had violated House rules by participating in voting on legislation while in China earlier in the year. The claims, primarily spread by right-wing influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, were based on videos shared on WeChat showing Chen’s visit to China.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted that a video of Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25 coincided with his electronic voting in the House of Commons on the same day. Concerns were raised about potential national security breaches if Chen had indeed voted from China. Conservative MP John Barlow also expressed concerns, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The House of Commons standing orders clearly state that MPs cannot vote while outside of Canada. The rules mandate that electronic votes must be cast within the country and that members’ identities are visually confirmed using facial recognition technology. Technical controls and human validation processes are in place to ensure compliance with these rules.
Chen’s office confirmed that he was in China from March 14 to March 22 and returned to Canada for the House of Commons session on March 23 after the spring recess. Evidence including his boarding pass, visa stamps, and official statements supported Chen’s assertion that he did not vote from outside Canada. His resignations were attributed to significant health issues stemming from a vehicle accident and travel constraints due to health concerns.
Critics raised questions about Chen’s ability to travel to China but not Ottawa, given his health condition. The trip to China was part of official parliamentary business with the Canada-China Legislative Association and was organized by the Hakka Canadian Association, focusing on promoting relationships within the Hakka ethnic community in Canada. The trip was carefully monitored for cybersecurity risks, as indicated in communications between Chen and House of Commons IT staff.
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s public disclosure detailed the trip’s itinerary, duration, and accommodations, corroborating the official account provided by Chen’s office regarding the purpose and timeline of his visit to China.