Senator Patrick Brazeau collapses in chamber during debate on major projects bill

Senate debate on the federal government’s major projects bill was briefly suspended after a First Nations senator collapsed on the floor of the chamber. Sen. Patrick Brazeau of Quebec is a member of the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi. He rose to speak before collapsing sideways onto the floor. Speaker Raymonde Gagné suspended proceedings for roughly half an hour. Paramedics entered the Senate chamber as many senators momentarily left, and Gagné thanked officials and colleagues for responding quickly after reconvening the session. The senator was speaking about Bill C-5, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s controversial legislation that would grant Ottawa sweeping new powers to fast-track project permits amid a trade war with the U.S. The politically charged legislation has angered Indigenous and environmental groups who argue the legislation does not adequately respect charter rights. The Liberals and Conservatives fast-tracked the bill through the House of Commons and it went through a rare pre-study by the Senate. With files from the Canadian Press Continue Reading