After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced online accusations of voting on legislation while in China earlier this year, violating House rules. The allegations, circulated by conservative influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, centered on videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same day he supposedly voted in Parliament.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video of Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25th, the same day he allegedly cast six electronic votes in the House of Commons. Concerns were raised about the potential breach of national security if Chen indeed voted from China, accessing parliamentary systems from CCP-controlled networks.
Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, stating that there are significant unanswered questions regarding Chen’s actions. Barlow referenced House of Commons standing orders, which explicitly prohibit MPs from voting while outside of Canada.
Multiple claims suggested that Chen participated in the voting on Bill C-9, the government’s contentious hate crime legislation, while he was in China. While acknowledging the possibility of post-travel video editing, Lee emphasized the validity of questioning Chen’s voting location.
Parliamentary rules strictly forbid MPs from voting while outside the country, as outlined in the House of Commons standing orders. These regulations mandate that electronic votes must originate within Canada and require visual confirmation of the member’s identity through facial recognition technology.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia emphasized the presence of technical safeguards and verification processes to ensure MPs are physically present in Canada during voting sessions. Chen’s office clarified that he traveled to China from March 14 to March 22, returning to Canada for parliamentary duties on March 23 following a recess.
Providing evidence of his travel itinerary, including a boarding pass and visa stamps in his passport, Chen’s office refuted claims of voting from China. They attributed his resignation to ongoing health issues following a vehicle accident last fall, impacting his ability to travel to Ottawa regularly.
Critics, including Lee, questioned Chen’s travel capabilities, given his recent trip to China sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association. The association, chaired by Markham Coun. Joe Li, organized the trip aimed at fostering relationships within the Hakka ethnic group in Canada.
Furthermore, emails exchanged between Chen and House of Commons IT staff regarding the cybersecurity risks associated with his travel were shared by his office. Public disclosure documents from the Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner detailed the itinerary of Chen’s trip as arranged by the Hakka Canadian Association.