Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced online accusations of violating House rules by participating in House of Commons votes while he was in China earlier this year following his announcement of resignation. The allegations, boosted by right-wing figures and a few current and former Conservative MPs, centered on videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China, coinciding with his recorded electronic voting in the House.
One post by independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted Chen enjoying ice cream in a video from March 25 in China, the same day he allegedly voted six times in the House. Concerns were raised about national security implications if Chen had voted remotely from China, accessing parliamentary systems through potentially risky means.
Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for answers beyond just the travel aspect. Referring to House rules, Barlow pointed out the prohibition against MPs voting from outside Canada. Several posts claimed Chen had voted on Bill C-9, the government’s hate crime legislation, while in China.
While acknowledging the possibility of post-trip video editing, Lee stressed the validity of questioning Chen’s voting location. House rules dictate that MPs must physically be in Canada to cast electronic votes, with visual confirmation of their identity required through facial recognition technology.
The Speaker’s office affirmed the presence of technical and human validation measures to ensure MPs vote within the country. Chen’s office clarified that he returned to Canada on March 23 for parliamentary sessions after his China trip from March 14 to 22, as evidenced by flight details and passport stamps. The office attributed his resignation to health issues affecting his ability to travel to Ottawa regularly.
Critics, including Lee, raised doubts about Chen’s health-related travel restrictions, contrasting his China trip with his resignation due to health concerns. The China trip, organized by the Hakka Canadian Association, aimed to foster relationships within the Hakka ethnic community in Canada. Documentation revealed cybersecurity precautions taken during the trip, which was publicly disclosed by the Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.