After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced online accusations of violating House rules by casting votes on legislation while in China earlier this year. The allegations were circulated by right-wing influencers and a few current and former Conservative MPs, who pointed to videos on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same day he allegedly voted in the House of Commons.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video of Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25, the same day he supposedly voted six times electronically in Parliament. Concerns were raised about potential national security breaches if Chen voted from China using networks controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
Conservative MP John Barlow echoed the sentiments, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and referencing House of Commons rules that prohibit MPs from voting outside Canada. The accusations centered on Chen’s alleged participation in the vote for Bill C-9, the government’s contentious hate crime legislation.
While some speculated that the videos could have been edited and posted post-trip, questions lingered about Chen’s voting activity while abroad. According to House rules, MPs are not allowed to vote from outside the country, and electronic votes must be cast within Canada. Additionally, visual confirmation of an MP’s identity is required through facial recognition technology.
In response to the allegations, Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s office affirmed the existence of technical controls and validation processes to ensure MPs are physically present in Canada when voting. Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22, returning to Ottawa for Parliament on March 23 after the spring recess.
Documentation provided by Chen’s office, including a boarding pass and visa stamps in his passport, supported his claim of being in China during the specified dates and returning to Canada before the House vote. Chen attributed his resignation to ongoing health issues stemming from a vehicle accident last fall, which limited his ability to travel to Ottawa regularly.
Critics, including Andy Lee, questioned Chen’s ability to travel to China while citing health concerns preventing frequent trips to Ottawa. The trip to China, sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association, aimed to foster relationships within the Hakka ethnic community in Canada. Emails between Chen and House of Commons IT staff detailed cybersecurity measures taken during his trip.
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s public disclosure confirmed details of Chen’s trip as documented by the Hakka Canadian Association. Despite the controversy, Chen maintained that he did not vote from outside Canada and highlighted the official parliamentary nature of his visit to China with other MPs and senators.
