Too injured to travel to Ottawa, but not China: Ex-Liberal MP Shaun Chen now running for city council
Shaun Chen plans to register Friday as a candidate for Toronto City Council in Scarborough North.
Former Liberal MP Shaun Chen says the effects of a serious car crash left him unable to continue the regular travel required to serve in Ottawa. But during his recovery, Chen managed a lengthy trip to China, and now, just weeks after resigning his federal seat, he says he's ready to campaign for Toronto City Council.
Chen, who represented Scarborough North since 2015, resigned from the House of Commons earlier this month, citing the lasting effects of an October 2025 crash while driving back to Ottawa.
He told the Toronto Star that travelling to Ottawa became overwhelming following the accident.
"I feel the reason why I cannot do the weekly travel is because the thought scares me, whether that's being in a car driven by someone else or even being on a plane," Chen said.
But Chen nevertheless flew to China in March to participate in the 34th World Hakka Conference, a trip disclosed to the federal Ethics Commissioner and sponsored by the Canadian Hakka Association.
Asked by the Star how he was able to make the approximately 15-hour flight while struggling with travel to Ottawa, Chen said he consulted his doctor and decided to try it.
"It was not an easy decision," he said, explaining that "perhaps a week was OK," and the trip could provide "a change of scenery" following the accident. Chen was filmed in videos during the trip with CCP-linked officials.
Now Chen says he is healthy enough to embark on another political campaign after resigning his MP seat two weeks ago due to health repercussions from his car accident. . Miraculous, really.
He plans to register Friday as a candidate for Toronto City Council in Scarborough North, challenging incumbent Coun. Jamaal Myers in the Oct. 26 municipal election.
Chen says municipal office eliminates the weekly commute that he found difficult following his crash and allows him to continue serving his community close to home.
But the timeline is bound to raise questions.
Chen has now provided the Star with a police report documenting the single-vehicle accident.
Demand that CSIS and the RCMP investigate Shaun Chen, the Liberal Party and CCP influence!
Sheila Gunn Reid
Chief Reporter
Sheila Gunn Reid is the Editor-in-Chief, Alberta Bureau Chief, member of the board of directors, and host of The Gunn Show at Rebel News. Sheila also serves as President of the Independent Press Gallery of Canada. A mother of three and longtime conservative activist, Sheila is the author of bestselling books, including her most recent release, Independence Blueprint: What Alberta Can Learn From Quebec.
https://mybook.to/sheila
