After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced allegations of voting on legislation while in China earlier this year. These claims surfaced online, primarily driven by right-wing influencers and a few current and former Conservative MPs, who pointed to videos on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same day he reportedly voted in the House of Commons.
The controversy centered around a post by independent journalist Andy Lee, highlighting a video of Chen in China on March 25th, the same day records show he cast electronic votes in the House of Commons. Concerns were raised about the potential breach of national security if Chen indeed voted remotely from China.
Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the need for answers. Referring to House of Commons rules, which prohibit voting from outside Canada, Barlow reiterated the gravity of the allegations.
However, Chen’s office refuted the claims, stating that he returned to Canada on March 22 from his trip to China and was present for the House of Commons session on March 23. They provided evidence, including Chen’s boarding pass and visa stamps in his passport, to support his physical presence in Canada during the voting period.
The Speaker’s office confirmed that strict measures are in place to ensure MPs vote from within the country, using facial recognition technology and other security protocols to prevent voting activity from outside Canada. Chen’s office attributed his resignation to health issues that limit his travel to Ottawa, clarifying that the China trip was his first since May 2019 and was undertaken for official parliamentary duties.
Critics, including Lee, questioned the inconsistency of Chen’s travel restrictions, highlighting his ability to visit China despite health concerns preventing frequent travel to Ottawa. The trip to China, sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association, aimed at fostering relationships within the Hakka ethnic community in Canada.
Moreover, emails between Chen and House of Commons IT staff revealed precautions taken to address cybersecurity risks during his trip, which were evaluated as potentially high-risk. The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosed details of Chen’s trip on their website, confirming its duration and purpose as outlined by the Hakka Canadian Association.
