Outgoing Liberal MP Shaun Chen is rebuffing online speculation that his decision to resign is not connected to health concerns.
Chen, who has represented the riding of Scarborough North since 2015, announced on Monday that he is stepping down as of Aug. 15 as he deals with “significant health issues.”
“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,” Chen said in a statement posted to X.
But following his announcement, news surfaced that he had travelled to China with the Hakka Canadian Association months after his accident, leading to questions from some critics surrounding his stated reason for stepping down.
In a statement to CTV News, Chen’s office confirms he travelled to China from March 14 to 22.
“During this period, the House of Commons was on parliamentary break, meaning there were no voting obligations. The Member of Parliament did not vote from outside Canada,” the statement goes on to say.
His office also reiterated Chen’s “ongoing significant health issues” and emphasized that he “filed in a timely manner full disclosure of the sponsored travel with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.”
A source close to Chen, meanwhile, tells CTV News that his visit to China was his only trip following his serious car accident. The outgoing MP, the source says, was also hoping the trip would provide a change of scenery as he dealt with his health issues.
The resignation is the latest in a slew of MPs from all political parties who have announced they are stepping down from their federal posts this year.
Three byelections are coming up on Aug. 31 for the ridings of Beaches-East York in Ontario, Chicoutimi-Le Fjord in Quebec and North Vancouver-Capilano in British Columbia. They are being held to replace former Liberal cabinet ministers Jonathan Wilkinson and Nate Erskine-Smith, as well as Conservative MP Richard Martel who is headed to the Senate.
Other byelections have yet to be called.
Last week, Conservative MP Larry Brock, who represents the riding of Brantford-Brant South, announced he is leaving the House of Commons on Sept. 18, to take a position at the Crown attorney’s office in Brantford, Ont.
Conservative Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall, meanwhile, announced she is stepping down at the end of August, as will former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault.
Current Independent and former NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice is expected to resign by the end of summer after he declared he is running for the Quebec solidaire in the Quebec election this fall, while Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay also resigned his seat in June to run for the Parti Québécois.
The prime minister must call a byelection between 11 and 180 days after a seat becomes vacant.
With the current vacancies, Carney’s Liberals hold a majority with 172 seats – the exact number required to form a majority government.