A Canadian lawmaker has apologized after he was caught logging on to a closed parliamentary session from a toilet stall.
Liberal party member Shafqat Ali participated in a hybrid session of parliament last Friday, joining with a Zoom-like feed visible only to other parliamentarians. But Conservative members grew suspicious of his surroundings.
Conservative MP Laila Goodridge told the House of Commons that a lawmaker “might be participating in a washroom” somewhere inside parliament – an allegation that baffled the Speaker of the House until it was confirmed by parliamentary pages.
On Monday, the Conservative House leader, John Brassard, told parliament that after studying the stonework, door hinges and coat hook, lawmakers had concluded Ali had placed his camera “on the ledge or ridge on the wall just above the back of the toilet”.
“The member of parliament was literally using the washroom while participating in a sitting of the House of Commons, the cathedral of Canadian democracy,” he said. “I can’t believe I actually just said those words, Madame Speaker.”
Ali apologized, calling the incident from a toilet stall in the building’s West Block an “unfortunate event” that arose from a lapse in judgment.
“I take this matter extremely seriously, and I promise never to repeat this error again,” he said.
The deputy House speaker, Chris D’Entremont, said Ali’s apology was sufficient enough to close the matter – but warned MPs “to always be vigilant” when participating remotely.
“If you don’t have to have the camera on, turn it off,” D’Entremont said. “If you don’t have to be in voting, turn it off.’
The bathroom stall incident is the second time the Liberals have been embarrassed by the conduct of a party member participating in parliament remotely.
In 2021, Will Amos was spotted naked on camera while changing after a run. He apologized, but then later admitted to urinating in a mug while attending a committee session. He said he would “seek assistance” and did not run in last year’s federal election.