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. These claims were circulated by various right-wing influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, who highlighted videos on WeChat showing Chen in China on March 25, the same day he allegedly voted electronically in the House of Commons.
The allegations raised concerns about potential breaches of national security, as House rules prohibit Members of Parliament from voting while outside Canada. These rules mandate that electronic votes can only be cast within the country and require MPs to visually confirm their identity using facial recognition technology.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia emphasized the presence of technical controls and human validation processes to ensure MPs are physically within Canada when casting their votes. Chen’s office clarified that he returned to Canada on March 23 after his trip to China from March 14 to March 22, providing evidence such as boarding passes and visa stamps to support his compliance with the voting regulations.
Chen cited significant health issues as the reason for his infrequent travel to Ottawa, leading to his decision to step down from his role. His office shared details of the China trip, which was part of official parliamentary business with the Canada-China Legislative Association. The trip was sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association and involved precautions against cybersecurity risks, as noted in emails exchanged with House of Commons IT staff.
Despite the controversy surrounding the timing of his trip and voting activities, Chen maintained that he did not vote from outside Canada. The Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosed information about Chen’s trip, confirming its duration and purpose. Critics questioned Chen’s ability to travel to China but not to Ottawa, raising further scrutiny on the circumstances surrounding his resignation.