An Bloc Quebecois member of Parliament apologized for taking a picture of his co-worker when he was naked during the live House of Commons proceedings.
On Wednesday, senator Sebastien Lemire, who represents Abitibi-Temiscamingue, apologized to Will Amos, whose Pontiac riding borders the senator’s.
The incident happened in April 14 and Amos claimed that he misplaced his camera turned on in his office when changing into work clothes after an exercise. Amos later apologized.
Amos was featured on a video feed restricted to MPs as well as House of Commons staff. Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez requested to the speaker of the House of Commons to launch an investigation into the incident.
“I have personally brought him my apology, and I also wanted to express my apology publicly, in his own person to him as well as to his family and colleagues, as well as anyone else I might be offended by,” The Lemire statement was in French.
WATCH Bloc MP apologizes taking a screenshot of a naked colleague:
Lemire has said he isn’t sure what happened to the image before it was released in the press.
Mark Holland, the government whip, said he was pleased with Lemire’s apology. He also acknowledged that he didn’t reveal the image to the media on his own. But he also said that many questions remain unanswered.
“Among them Are there any questions about whether Mr. Lemire ever share this picture with any person? Who was the person who sent this photo to the media, and was then shared across the world? What was the method by which this secret, non-consensual photo arrive through Mr. Lemire’s mobile to the outlets at such a rapid pace?” Holland stated.
Holland claimed that taking a photograph of proceedings at the parliamentary level and later sharing it with the media is an infraction of House of Commons rules and guidelines. The person who shared the picture to the media is guilty of the commission of a “potential crime,” he said.
“I will bring up this issue in a session that is part of the Board of Internal Economy,” Holland said, referring to the body that governs the House.
“What happened here is in violation of the bounds of reasonable actions and the party responsible is accountable.”
