Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced accusations online for allegedly violating House rules by participating in parliamentary votes while he was in China earlier this year, following his announcement to resign from the House of Commons. The claims, mainly propagated by right-wing influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, were based on videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same day he supposedly voted in the House of Commons.
Independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted the discrepancy in a series of posts, pointing out Chen’s presence in China on a day he electronically voted in Parliament. Concerns were raised about potential national security breaches if Chen indeed voted remotely from China. Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
According to the House of Commons standing orders, MPs are prohibited from voting while outside Canada, and electronic votes are exclusively allowed within the country. Facial recognition technology is deployed to confirm MPs’ identities when recording their votes, ensuring compliance with the rules. The Speaker’s office emphasized the presence of technical controls and validation processes to detect any unauthorized voting activities originating from outside the country.
Chen’s office refuted the allegations, stating that the MP returned to Canada before the parliamentary session following his trip to China. Documentation provided by Chen’s office, including boarding passes and visa stamps, verified his travel dates and confirmed that he did not vote from outside Canada. Chen attributed his resignation to significant health issues stemming from a past vehicle accident, limiting his ability to travel to Ottawa regularly.
Critics, including Lee, questioned Chen’s ability to travel to China while citing health concerns preventing frequent trips to Ottawa. The trip to China was part of official parliamentary business sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association, chaired by Markham Coun. Joe Li. Security measures, including the use of loaned devices evaluated for cybersecurity risks, were in place during Chen’s trip.
The Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosed details of Chen’s trip as part of public records, indicating the trip’s duration and accommodations provided by the Hakka Canadian Association.