After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced online accusations of voting on legislation while being in China earlier this year. The claims surfaced from videos shared on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same date he allegedly voted in Parliament. Various individuals, including conservative influencers and MPs, raised concerns about the potential breach of national security if Chen indeed voted remotely from China.
The House of Commons rules explicitly prohibit Members of Parliament from participating in votes while outside of Canada. Electronic votes are permitted only within the country, as outlined in standing order 45 (12) (a) which also mandates visual confirmation of a member’s identity through facial recognition technology. The Speaker’s office emphasized the presence of technical controls and validation processes to ensure MPs are physically present in Canada when casting their votes.
Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22, returning to Canada for parliamentary duties on March 23. Documentation, including a boarding pass and visa stamps in Chen’s passport, supported his travel dates and refuted claims of voting from outside Canada. Chen attributed his resignation to significant health issues resulting from a past vehicle accident, limiting his ability to fulfill parliamentary responsibilities.
Critics questioned Chen’s travel capabilities given his health condition, particularly his ability to visit China but not Ottawa. The trip to China, sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association, aimed to foster relationships within the Hakka ethnic community in Canada. Correspondence between Chen and House of Commons IT staff regarding cybersecurity measures during his trip was disclosed, along with details of the trip on the Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s website.
Overall, the allegations of voting from China were debunked with evidence confirming Chen’s physical presence in Canada during the parliamentary sessions. Chen’s resignation was attributed to health concerns, despite skepticism surrounding his travel activities.