Muhammad Amanullah | August 14, 2026
The True Post — A controversy has emerged online following Liberal MP Shaun Chen’s announcement that he will resign his seat in the House of Commons, with social media users and several Conservative politicians alleging that Chen voted in Parliament while he was in China earlier this year.
The allegation was based largely on the dates attached to videos posted on the Chinese social media platform WeChat that appeared to show Chen in China on the same day he electronically voted in the House of Commons.
However, available travel records, Chen’s office and information reviewed by The Canadian Press indicate that the claim is not supported by the evidence. (CityNews Kitchener)
How Did the Allegation Emerge?
Independent journalist Andy Lee raised questions on social media about whether Chen had been in China while participating in parliamentary votes.
One post pointed to a WeChat video showing Chen eating ice cream in China that was posted on March 25, while House records show that Chen cast six electronic votes that day.
The allegations were subsequently amplified by right-wing commentators and several current and former Conservative MPs.
Conservative MP John Barlow also shared a thread about Chen’s travel and questioned whether the issue went beyond his trip to China.
Bill C-9 Became Part of the Controversy
Several social media posts specifically claimed that Chen voted on Bill C-9, the federal government’s controversial hate-crime legislation, while he was still in China.
The allegations raised questions about whether an MP could participate electronically in sensitive parliamentary proceedings from outside Canada.
However, Lee later acknowledged that the WeChat videos could have been edited or uploaded after the trip. Despite that, he maintained that questions about the timing of Chen’s votes were reasonable. (CityNews Kitchener)
What Do Parliamentary Rules Say?
Canadian MPs are not permitted to participate in House votes while outside Canada.
The House of Commons rules state that electronic votes must be cast from within Canada. The electronic voting system also includes identity verification measures, including visual confirmation and facial-recognition technology.
A spokesperson for the office of House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia said technical controls and human validation procedures are in place to ensure MPs are physically in Canada when voting.
The Speaker’s office said these measures are designed to detect and address circumstances that could indicate voting activity originating outside Canada. (CityNews Kitchener)
Shaun Chen’s Office Rejects the Allegation
Chen’s office has categorically denied that the MP voted from China.
According to his office, Chen travelled to China from March 14 to March 22 and returned to Canada in time for the House of Commons sitting on March 23.
His office provided a copy of his boarding pass showing that he departed Taipei for Toronto at 6:50 p.m. local time on March 22. The flight normally takes around 14 hours, but the time difference means passengers arrive in Toronto on the same calendar date.
The Canadian Press also reviewed visa stamps in Chen’s passport showing his arrival in China on March 14 and departure on March 22. (CityNews Kitchener)
Based on those records, Chen was back in Canada before the March 25 votes cited in the original allegations.
Travel Records Challenge the Social Media Claim
The central issue is the difference between the date a video was posted and the date it was actually recorded.
A WeChat video carrying a March 25 posting date does not necessarily prove that Chen was physically in China on March 25.
This distinction became particularly important after the possibility was raised that some of the videos may have been edited or uploaded after Chen had already returned to Canada.
The available boarding-pass and passport information indicates that his China trip ended on March 22. (CityNews Kitchener)
Why Was Chen in China?
Chen’s office said the trip was his first and only visit to China since May 2019.
The trip was connected to the Hakka Canadian Association and involved parliamentary-related activities with other MPs and senators.
Public information released through Canada’s Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner also listed the trip as taking place from March 14 to March 22, including seven nights of hotel accommodation.
Cybersecurity Concerns Were Already Considered
Interestingly, Chen’s office also provided emails exchanged with House of Commons IT staff concerning his technology arrangements during the China trip.
The arrangements included a loaned tablet and a phone with a temporary SIM card.
The correspondence indicated that the trip was considered to carry a potentially high cybersecurity risk, suggesting that parliamentary officials were aware of the risks associated with using electronic devices during the overseas visit. (CityNews Kitchener)
Chen’s Resignation and Health Issues
The controversy emerged shortly after Chen announced that he would resign from the House of Commons.
Chen said ongoing health issues had made it difficult for him to travel regularly between Toronto and Ottawa, which he said was necessary to fulfill his parliamentary responsibilities.
He had previously said he was involved in a vehicle accident while travelling between Toronto and Ottawa last fall.
Some critics questioned why he was able to travel to China if travelling to Ottawa had become difficult.
Chen’s office has responded that the China trip was a limited, specific visit, while parliamentary duties require regular and ongoing travel between Toronto and Ottawa. (CityNews Kitchener)
What the Evidence Shows
The allegation that Shaun Chen voted in Parliament while physically present in China appears to have originated from the dates attached to social media videos.
However, those posting dates alone do not establish when the videos were recorded.
In contrast, Chen’s boarding pass, passport records reviewed by The Canadian Press and publicly disclosed travel information all indicate that his China trip ended on March 22, before the March 25 parliamentary votes cited in the original allegations.
Parliamentary officials have also confirmed that the electronic voting system includes technical and human safeguards intended to ensure MPs are physically located in Canada when they vote. (CityNews Kitchener)
Based on the currently available evidence, the claim that Shaun Chen voted in the Canadian Parliament while he was in China is not established as fact. The evidence cited online raises questions about the timing of social media posts, but the available travel records do not directly support the allegation.
