Canadian MP caught calling into Parliamentary session from toilet

  • 12/05/2022
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali has apologised for attending the Zoom call in a toilet cubical.
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali has apologised for attending the Zoom call in a toilet cubical. Photo credit: Twitter/Shafqat Ali, Getty Images

A Canadian lawmaker was caught appearing remotely for a Parliamentary session from a toilet.

Liberal MP Shafqat Ali has apologised for attending the Zoom call in a toilet cubical in one of the men's washrooms after colleagues noticed the familiar background.

Conservative MP Laila Goodridge, who was attending the event in person, suggested Ali "might be participating from a washroom".

According to the BBC, a Parliamentary page then confirmed he appeared to be in the washroom, triggering the chamber's assistant deputy speaker to warn lawmakers to be "prudent" about how they use their devices.

Ali's camera was apparently on a ledge behind the toilet.

"The camera was mounted on the ledge or ridge on the wall just above the back of the toilet," a rival MP told the outlet.

Ali has apologised for the lapse in judgement and was advised to keep his camera off if necessary. 

"I take this matter extremely seriously, and I promise never to repeat this error again," he said.

This is not the first time a Liberal MP was caught in an embarrassing situation. Last year Will Amos had to apologise after he urinated during a virtual video of Parliament proceedings.

A month earlier, Amos caught naked on Zoom by collegues when he was changing into his work clothes after going for a jog and didn't realise his camera was on during the virtual parliamentary sitting.