After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced accusations of violating House rules by participating in voting while in China earlier in the year. The allegations, propagated by conservative influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, are centered on videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China alongside his electronic voting records from the same date.
Independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video showing Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25th, the same day he supposedly voted six times electronically in the House of Commons. Concerns were raised about the potential national security implications of Chen voting remotely from China. Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
Barlow referenced the House of Commons standing orders, which explicitly forbid MPs from voting while outside Canada. The controversy revolved around Chen’s alleged voting on Bill C-9, the government’s hate crime legislation, while he was in China. Despite suggestions that the videos may have been edited and posted after the trip, questions lingered about Chen’s voting location.
House rules dictate that MPs cannot participate in votes while abroad, and electronic votes are limited to within Canada. Facial recognition technology is employed to visually confirm the identity of members recording their votes. The Speaker’s office assured that stringent security measures are in place to ensure MPs are physically present in the country when voting.
Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22 and returned to Canada on March 23 for parliamentary duties. Evidence, including Chen’s boarding pass and visa stamps, supported his travel dates. Denying the accusations, Chen’s office stated that his health issues necessitated reduced travel, leading to his decision to resign. The trip to China was officially sanctioned parliamentary business with the Canada-China Legislative Association.
Despite the controversy, Chen’s resignation was linked to health concerns following a vehicle accident. Critics raised questions about his ability to travel to China but not to Ottawa. The trip to China was organized by the Hakka Canadian Association and involved cybersecurity considerations, as verified by emails between Chen and House of Commons IT staff. The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosed details of Chen’s trip on its website, confirming the official nature of the visit.