Liberal Member of Parliament Shaun Chen faced online accusations of violating House rules by casting votes while in China earlier this year. The claims were circulated by right-wing influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs based on videos posted on the Chinese social media platform WeChat showing Chen in China.
According to independent journalist Andy Lee, a post pointed out that on March 25, a video showed Chen enjoying ice cream in China while voting electronically six times in the House of Commons on the same day. This raised concerns about potential breaches of national security.
Conservative MP John Barlow shared a thread about Chen’s travel, emphasizing the need for answers to serious questions beyond the trip itself. Barlow referenced the House of Commons standing orders, which explicitly prohibit MPs from voting while outside of Canada.
The controversy mainly revolved around allegations that Chen participated in voting on the contentious hate crime bill, Bill C-9, while in China. While it was acknowledged that the WeChat videos might have been edited and posted after the trip, questions persisted about Chen’s voting activity during that time.
House rules mandate that MPs cannot vote while abroad, as electronic votes are restricted to within Canada. Identity verification during voting includes visual confirmation and the use of facial recognition technology through a designated app.
In response to the allegations, Chen’s office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22, returning to Canada for the House sitting on March 23 following a recess. Supporting evidence included Chen’s boarding pass and visa stamps in his passport, confirming his travel dates.
Chen attributed his resignation to significant health issues resulting from a previous car accident. Critics, including Lee, raised concerns about Chen’s ability to travel to China but not to Ottawa due to health reasons.
The trip to China was organized by the Hakka Canadian Association, chaired by Markham Coun. Joe Li, for parliamentary business with other MPs and senators. Chen’s office shared communication with House of Commons IT staff regarding cybersecurity precautions during the trip.
Details of Chen’s trip were disclosed publicly by the Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, mentioning the sponsorship by the Hakka Canadian Association for a specific period with hotel accommodations.