Shaun Chen (simplified Chinese: 陈圣源; traditional Chinese: 陳聖源) a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the riding of Scarborough North in the Greater Toronto Area, has vowed to dedicate his life to public service.

Chen said he has been fortunate to grow up in Canada, a country where pluralism and inclusion are among its core values.

“Canada is increasingly diverse, with a focus on multiculturalism and social equality,” Liberal MP Chen told CAIFU Monday, October 15, 2018. “[Canada] welcomes people from all corners of the world for a better future. Safety and security is the Canadian dream.”

While Canada’s multicultural environment is still a work in progress, Chen explained, the Canadian way of life allows all citizens a chance for success.

A Canadian with Chinese and Indian Roots

Chen’s parents – mother Yueh Ming and father Kuo Tsai Chen – were both born and raised in Kolkata, India. They immigrated to Canada in the 1970s after their family business in Kolkata faltered.

“They came to Canada for opportunity, and to build a better life,” he continued. “My parents never went to university, but they worked hard throughout their lives. They taught me the importance of hard work, determination and humility.”

Chen said he was born in Toronto, and raised in Scarborough, a borough east of the capital of Ontario that was once farmland.

He said he experienced a unique upbringing, as he was born in Canada of Chinese descent with an Indian heritage. “My parents and I speak Hakka [a Chinese dialect],” he added. “I also grew up eating both South Asian and Chinese food.”

Chen was one of the few ethnic minority students in his class in Scarborough in the 1980s. “I was one of the only Chinese faces in school,” he noted. “Scarborough wasn’t as diverse as it is now.”

Currently, Scarborough’s population is predominately comprised of East and South Asian immigrants. According to the 2016 Census compiled by Statistics Canada, around 28,250 Scarborough residents are South Asian, while 10,250 residents are Chinese.

When other Chinese families started moving to Scarborough, Chen said he still felt like he didn’t fit in, as his classmates spoke Cantonese. These childhood experiences, he said, helped him figure out his life path – to play a part in creating an inclusive multicultural environment by eliminating gaps for the disadvantage and newcomers to Canada.

Pursuing Passion in Public Service

A first-generation university student, Chen studied the University of Toronto, where he received a bachelor of science in computer science and equity studies, along with a master’s in sociology in education.

Upon graduation, Chen told his parents he was not interested in a career in the computer software industry despite its lucrative salary offerings; he wanted to run for public office. His first step in his public service career was in the education sector as a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustee.

Education is an important area for social change and the key to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities for success, Chen explained.

“[My parents] were surprised, as they said there were few people of Chinese heritage in Canadian politics,” he continued. “But I explained this is what I am passionate about – getting involved with student leadership and social justice issues.”

Chen said his parents eventually warmed up to the idea of his career in public service and became his biggest supporters. “My dad can still speak Hindi, and he went door-to-door speaking Hindi with constituents,” he added.

Chen was first elected in 2006 to the TDSB as trustee for Ward 21, Scarborough-Rouge River. He went to work right away to reform English as a Second Language (ESL) funding in Ontario.

Back in 2006, the Ontario provincial government had allocated $80 million to the TDSB ESL funding each year, but only half of that was spent on ESL projects, and the rest went to operating expenses unrelated to ESL.

“I felt this was wrong,” Chen said. “At the time, many new immigrant students did not receive any ESL services at all. And new immigrant parents are reluctant to become involved because of a language barrier. I needed to make a change.”

Chen said he launched a detailed investigation and challenged the ESL budget based on data and research. As a result of his efforts, The TDSB decided to allocate $11.5 million more to hire more ESL teachers to ensure that all new immigrant students receive ESL services.

After serving as vice-chair for three years, Chen was elected in 2014 as chair of the TDSB – the first and youngest Chinese-Canadian to hold the post at Canada’s largest school board. Under his leadership, he led the TDSB to approve a balanced $3 billion operating budget, enact a new whistle-blower policy and establish an integrity commissioner to ensure the highest standards of ethical conduct.

An Honour to Serve Scarborough North

Chen said he felt his next challenge was to make a difference on the federal level. He resigned from the TDSB in 2015 to run as a Liberal MP candidate for the Scarborough North riding, considered a cultural mosaic where visible minorities are the vast majority.  

According to the 2016 Census, Canadian immigrants comprise nearly 70 percent of Scarborough North residents, while almost 57,000 residents are from Asia.

“Scarborough North is an exciting and diverse riding,” Chen stated. “There are Hindu temples, Gurdwara Sikh temples and mosques. All corners of the world can come together here and live in harmony.”

Chen won the election in 2015, and was initially appointed to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. He now serves on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

As MP, Chen said he continues to promote education and opportunities for Scarborough North’s youth. He said he spearheaded a $900,000 summer jobs initiative to encourage teenagers to gain work experience.

“I believe that the core of education is to teach children to look at what they learn with a critical eye, to encourage them to think and question, rather than force them to accept everything or believe in a certain point of view,” he said. “Young people are the future.”

Chen said the most important role as MP is to make sure Scarborough North constituents are well served and well represented. “I have an open door policy for constituents so I can respond to their concerns,” he added. “That’s a tradition I’d like to continue.”

Most of all, Chen stated he is determined to achieve social equality while helping disadvantaged groups. “This is why I love my job – to serve the people,” Chen concluded. “It’s a privilege to advocate on my constituents’ concerns.”