OTTAWA – After the announcement by Liberal MP Shaun Chen regarding his resignation from the House of Commons in September, he faced accusations online concerning a potential violation of House rules. Critics allege that Chen cast votes on legislation while he was in China earlier this year.
The allegations, primarily fueled by right-wing figures and some current and former Conservative MPs, stem from timestamps on videos shared on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, which appear to show Chen during his visit to China.
THE CLAIM
Independent journalist Andy Lee posted a series of statements highlighting that "Shaun Chen enjoys some ice cream" in a video dated March 25, while records revealed that he voted electronically six times in the House of Commons on the same date.
Another post raised serious national security concerns, suggesting the potential risks of accessing Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled networks to vote in Parliament. Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these sentiments by emphasizing the gravity of the situation, stating, "This goes much deeper than a trip to China. There are serious questions that need answers."
Many posts specifically mentioned that Chen allegedly voted on the controversial Bill C-9 concerning hate crime legislation on March 25 while he was still in China.
Lee later acknowledged the possibility that the WeChat videos could have been edited and uploaded after the trip, but maintained it was valid to question whether Chen cast votes from China.
THE FACTS?
According to the rules of the House of Commons, members of Parliament are prohibited from voting while outside of Canada. The standing orders state that electronic votes must be cast within Canadian borders and require visual confirmation of the member's identity, utilizing facial recognition technology linked to an app designed for this purpose.
A representative from House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s office confirmed that technical controls and human verification processes are in place to ensure MPs only vote when they are physically within Canada. These measures are outlined in accordance with House of Commons security policies.
Chen's office clarified that he was in China from March 14 to March 22 and returned to Canada on March 23. They provided a copy of his boarding pass, indicating that he was on a flight from Taipei to Toronto, departing at 6:50 PM local time on March 22. This flight typically lasts about 14 hours and lands the same day due to time zone adjustments.
Additionally, The Canadian Press verified a photo of the visa stamps in Chen's passport which marked his arrival in China on March 14 and his departure on March 22. Chen’s office emphasized that he did not vote from outside Canada and pointed to his significant ongoing health issues, which have limited his ability to travel frequently to Ottawa.
Chen described his recent trip to China as his first since May 2019 and a visit conducted in capacity with the Canada-China Legislative Association along with other MPs and senators. He had announced his resignation citing complications from a vehicle accident he was involved in last fall on his way to Ottawa.
Despite the ongoing controversy, critics raised questions regarding why Chen would be able to travel to China but could not manage trips to Ottawa. The journey was financed by the Hakka Canadian Association, which aims to foster community among Hakka people in Canada.
Furthermore, Chen's office shared emails indicating coordinated efforts with House of Commons IT staff about using a loaned tablet and a phone with a temporary SIM card during his travel, highlighting a "potentially high cybersecurity risk" associated with his trip. This was positioned alongside a public disclosure by Canada's conflict of interest and ethics commissioner, which included details of his travel, affirming that the trip ran from March 14 to March 22 and included accommodations for seven nights.
