After announcing his intention to step down from his position in the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced accusations of violating House rules by participating in voting while he was in China earlier this year. These claims were brought forward by several right-wing influencers and a few current and former Conservative MPs, who pointed to videos shared on WeChat showing Chen’s visit to China and his alleged electronic voting on the same day.
The allegations suggested that Chen voted electronically on several occasions on March 25, coinciding with the day he was seen in the videos from China. Concerns were raised about the potential security implications of accessing parliamentary systems from China.
Conservative MP John Barlow joined the conversation, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and highlighting the House of Commons standing orders that prohibit MPs from voting while outside Canada. Many of the claims centered on Chen’s supposed participation in the government’s contentious hate crime legislation, Bill C-9, on the mentioned date.
However, official regulations dictate that MPs cannot cast votes while abroad, as outlined in the House of Commons standing orders. These rules stipulate that electronic votes must be carried out within Canada, with visual confirmation of the member’s identity through facial recognition technology. The Speaker’s office assured the presence of technical controls and validation processes to ensure compliance with these regulations.
Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22, presenting evidence such as his boarding pass and visa stamps in his passport to support his return to Canada before the voting sessions. They also mentioned Chen’s health issues as a reason for his limited travel to Ottawa, leading to his decision to resign.
Critics, including journalist Andy Lee, questioned Chen’s ability to travel to China while citing health concerns preventing regular trips to Ottawa. The trip to China was organized by the Hakka Canadian Association, with cybersecurity precautions taken for Chen’s communication devices during the visit.
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s office disclosed details of Chen’s trip on their website, confirming the dates and purpose of the journey sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association. Chen’s resignation following his car accident last year was also mentioned in the context of his decision to step down from his parliamentary role.