After announcing his resignation from the House of Commons, Liberal MP Shaun Chen faced online accusations of violating House rules by participating in voting while in China earlier this year. The allegations, propagated by conservative influencers and some current and former Conservative MPs, are centered around videos posted on WeChat showing Chen in China on the same day he allegedly voted in the House of Commons.
Independent journalist Andy Lee highlighted the discrepancy, pointing out that video evidence from March 25th in China conflicted with electronic voting records showing Chen casting six votes in the House of Commons on the same day. Concerns were raised about potential national security breaches if Chen indeed voted while in China, accessing parliamentary systems from CCP-controlled networks.
Conservative MP John Barlow echoed these concerns, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for clarity. Referring to House of Commons standing orders, Barlow underscored the prohibition against MPs voting from outside Canada. Many of the online posts specifically mentioned Chen’s alleged participation in the vote on Bill C-9, the government’s hate crime legislation.
While acknowledging the possibility of video manipulation, Lee maintained that it was reasonable to question whether Chen voted from China. The regulations stipulate that MPs cannot partake in House votes while abroad, with specific guidelines on electronic voting confined to within Canada. Measures such as visual confirmation of members’ identities and facial recognition technology are in place to ensure compliance with these rules.
In response to the allegations, Chen’s office clarified that he had returned to Canada from China before the House session on March 23, following his trip from March 14 to March 22. Supporting documentation, including his boarding pass and visa stamps, corroborated his travel dates. Chen’s office emphasized that due to health issues, the decision to resign was based on his inability to travel frequently to Ottawa, despite the China trip being undertaken for official parliamentary business.
Critics, including Lee, questioned the inconsistency of Chen’s ability to travel to China but not Ottawa, following a car accident last fall. The trip to China was arranged by the Hakka Canadian Association for parliamentary business, which was scrutinized for potential cybersecurity risks. The Office of Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosed details of Chen’s trip, which was sponsored by the association and involved a week-long stay in hotels.
Overall, the allegations against Chen voting from China while in violation of House rules have sparked a contentious debate, with both sides presenting their arguments based on available evidence and regulations governing parliamentary procedures.