Following the announcement of his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced allegations online for allegedly voting on parliamentary bills while he was in China earlier this year, violating House rules.
These claims gained traction with the support of various right-wing influencers and a few current and former Conservative Members of Parliament. They pointed to videos posted on the Chinese social media platform WeChat showing Chen’s visit to China, with date stamps that coincided with his voting records in the House of Commons.
Allegations
One post from independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted a video showing Shaun Chen enjoying ice cream in China on March 25, the same date he allegedly cast six electronic votes in the House of Commons. Concerns were raised about potential breaches in national security if Chen voted remotely from China, accessing parliamentary systems from networks controlled by the Chinese government.
Conservative MP John Barlow shared information about Chen’s travel, emphasizing the need for answers to serious questions beyond the surface issues. Barlow also referenced the House of Commons standing orders, which explicitly prohibit MPs from casting votes while outside Canada.
Several social media posts suggested that Chen participated in a crucial vote on the government’s Bill C-9, related to hate crimes, while he was reportedly in China.
Andy Lee later acknowledged the possibility that the WeChat videos could have been edited and posted after Chen’s trip but maintained that it was reasonable to question the voting activity.
Verification
Members of Parliament are prohibited from voting in the House of Commons when they are outside the country, as per the House of Commons standing orders governing parliamentary procedures. These rules specify that electronic votes must originate from within Canada.
Standing order 45 (12) (a) mandates visual confirmation of a member’s identity during voting. MPs are required to log into an app that utilizes facial recognition technology to validate their identity.
A spokesperson from House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s office affirmed the presence of technical controls and validation processes to ensure MPs are physically present in Canada when casting their votes. These measures align with parliamentary security and technology policies to detect and address any potential voting activity from outside the country.
Chen’s office clarified that the MP was in China from March 14 to March 22 and returned to Canada for the House of Commons session on March 23 following the spring recess. Supporting evidence included Chen’s boarding pass indicating his return flight from Taipei to Toronto on March 22.
Photographs of visa stamps in Chen’s passport verified his travel dates to and from China, supporting the assertion that he did not participate in voting activities from outside Canada. Chen’s office attributed his resignation to significant health issues preventing frequent travel to Ottawa, necessitating his decision to step down.
Chen’s statement upon resignation mentioned a vehicular accident he experienced last fall while commuting between Toronto and Ottawa, prompting his forthcoming departure from office next month.
Doubts were raised by critics, including Andy Lee, regarding Chen’s ability to travel to China despite health concerns preventing travel to Ottawa for parliamentary duties.
The trip to China was organized by the Hakka Canadian Association, chaired by Markham Coun. Joe Li, aiming to foster relationships within the Hakka ethnic community in Canada.
Additionally, emails exchanged between Chen and House of Commons IT staff detailed arrangements for his use of loaned devices and temporary SIM cards during the trip, acknowledging potential cybersecurity risks associated with his travel.
The public disclosure by Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner included information about Chen’s trip, sponsored by the Hakka Canadian Association for seven nights from March 14 to 22.