Liberal Member of Parliament Shaun Chen faced online accusations of violating House rules by participating in House of Commons votes while in China earlier this year, following his announcement of resignation. Various claims, amplified by right-wing influencers and a few current and former Conservative MPs, were centered around videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video of Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25, the same day records indicated he electronically voted six times in the House of Commons. Concerns were raised about potential national security breaches if Chen had indeed voted from China, accessing parliamentary systems from CCP-controlled networks.
Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, emphasizing the gravity of the situation beyond a simple trip to China. Referring to House of Commons standing orders, Barlow pointed out that MPs are prohibited from voting while outside Canada. The focus of the accusations was Chen’s alleged participation in voting on Bill C-9, the government’s hate crime legislation, while abroad.
While acknowledging the possibility of edited post-trip videos, Lee maintained that questioning Chen’s voting location was justified. The rules dictate that MPs cannot vote outside the country, and electronic votes must be cast within Canada, as per House of Commons standing orders. Visual confirmation of a member’s identity is required, with facial recognition technology used during the voting process.
In response, Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22, returning to Canada for the House of Commons session on March 23 after the spring recess. Providing evidence of his travel itinerary and visa stamps, Chen’s office asserted that he did not vote from outside Canada. Chen cited health issues as the reason for his resignation, stemming from a vehicle accident last fall that limited his travel between Toronto and Ottawa.
Questions were raised regarding Chen’s ability to travel to China despite health concerns preventing frequent trips to Ottawa. The trip to China was part of official parliamentary business with the Canada-China Legislative Association and sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association, involving cybersecurity precautions due to potential risks. The details of Chen’s trip were publicly disclosed on the Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s website.