With several byelections already pending, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call another after Liberal MP Shaun Chen has announced his resignation.
Chen, who has represented the riding of Scarborough North since 2015, said 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 on Monday.
“After discussing the situation with my family, I have decided that it is best for me to step down as a Member of Parliament.”
In the statement, Chen called his time as an MP “the greatest privilege and honour of my career,” adding that he hopes “whoever represents this riding next will love the job as much as I have.”
CTV News was first to report Chen’s resignation prior to his statement.
In his own social media post, Carney thanked Chen for his “years of service to the people of Scarborough North” and advocacy work that he said “made a real difference in your community and across Canada.”
“Wishing you a full recovery and best of luck for what comes next,” Carney went on to say.
The resignation will be the latest in a slew of MPs from all political parties that 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 and 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.
The House of Commons is set to resume on Sept. 21.
With files from CTV News’ chief political correspondent Vassy Kapelos
