WARMINGTON: Why is 2025 car crash injury Shaun Chen's reason to resign?

· Toronto Sun

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

Visit biznow.biz for more information.

Current and former Members of Parliament are asking for answers about why Scarborough North MP Shaun Chen is resigning his safe Liberal seat because of car crash injuries, when social media posts show him appearing healthy while visiting China in July.

“Canadians deserve answers,” said Conservative MP John Barlow from the Foothills of Alberta in a post on X.

He was responding to posts from independent journalist Andy Lee, who shared WeChat photos and videos of Chen appearing to have good mobility during a recent trip to Guangdong, China.

“Couldn’t travel for Parliament. Could travel to China. Former Liberal MP Shaun Chen (elected 2015) said he couldn’t fulfill his parliamentary travel requirements. Yet public posts show him in China, including as recently as July,” posted Barlow.

He also asked, “What were the trips? Who organized it? Who paid? Who did he meet?”

Fair questions.

More questions are being asked

MP Chen said physical injuries from a car crash last year have forced him to resign his seat in Parliament.

“In late fall 2025 I suffered a serious motor vehicle accident, while commuting to Ottawa, which has caused significant health issues that now prevent me from travelling there as frequently as the role requires,” he wrote to his constituents about his decision to make Saturday his last day. “Serving the federal riding of Scarborough North over the past 11 years has been the greatest privilege and honour of my career.”

But now that social media postings showing him moving well during a visit to China, more questions are being asked.

“Is it accurate that you did go to China?” was a question the Sun emailed to both Chen and the PMO. ”Was this official business or personal business?”

With the timelines of an earlier trip to China in March matching parliament sitting, Chen was asked if he voted remotely from there and, for clarity, was asked for more details on the late fall crash.

“Is it accurate that you were in a car accident and injuries don’t allow you to travel, or was that information not conveyed properly?”

It should be easy to clear up. Chen has also been asked to provide a police accident report number and medical records. Neither he nor the PMO have responded to those requests so far.

PM acknowledge MP’s medical issues

Prime Minister Mark Carney is said to be in Tuscany this week. It’s unknown where he is staying there and he has not been made available to the media to answer questions like this.

But Carney did previously acknowledge Chen’s planned resignation in a post on X and did reference his MP’s medical issues.

“Wishing you a full recovery and best of luck for what comes next. I know you’ll keep making a difference for years to come,” Carney posted to X. “Shaun, thank you for your years of service to the people of Scarborough North. Your advocacy for young people and your work to combat racism have made a real difference in your community and across Canada.”

But former MP Michelle Ferreri, who served as a Conservative MP in the House from 2021-2015 said on X, “I have never in my life seen this guy.”

Another person who served in parliament with Chen told the Toronto Sun he only saw him a few times in the House. He added that many members are not in favour of any “hybrid” parliament model or remote voting.

Barlow on X said no matter what format is used, it’s imperative that every member does not vote from abroad.

“Standing Order 45(12)(a): electronic votes by Canadian MPs must be cast from within Canada,” posted Barlow. “Remote participation in House sittings also requires members to be physically located in Canada.”

While there has been no official allegation or conclusion that any MP voted remotely from outside the country, many members feel it is something that should be regularly scrutinized.

The RCMP, CSIS or the PMO have so far not commented on whether they are looking into this matter. For fairness to the Chen, his constituents and transparency to the fellow members of Parliament and the country they all serve, an official response from all three would be an appropriate move.

As the Toronto Sun ’s Brian Lilley wrote in 2024 , “a report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians confirms previous media reporting that China’s consulate in Toronto sought to support or oppose specific candidates in the 2019 election. The report says there were 11 candidates and 13 political staffers involved, “some of whom appeared to be wittingly working for the PRC (People’s Republic of China).”

With this kind of history in parliament, one can never be too safe to check out every potential breach.

Meanwhile, Chen has been asked to clear the air on all of this, and we will run his response and the accident details if he provides them.

Read full story at source