Nasty smell in Senate chambers causes early adjournment
A pungent odour prompted a sitting of Canadian Senators to adjourn early Tuesday afternoon.
Sen. Don Plett rose in the Red Chamber to express his concern over working conditions, hearkening back to his days as a plumber.
"Your honour, I’m not quite sure how to approach this, but we have a very, very difficult odour in this chamber, as we have had in the entire building most of the morning," he said. "As an old plumber, I used to work with this odour quite a bit. As a Senator, I haven’t quite as often."
Plett said he wasn't sure exactly what the proper course of action was, but added the smell was affecting some Senators and would likely continue to be a problem.
Speaker George Furey said there was "little or nothing" he could do but did acknowledge some people had complained of headaches and other discomforts because of the smell.
"I think, in fairness to all our colleagues, especially those who are not here because of this particular problem, that we should suspend to a five-minute bell and ask the leadership if they can get together and discuss this," he said.
Furey called a five-minute suspension at around 3:15 p.m. It wasn't long before the Senate adjourned. On Twitter, the Senate announced its adjournment at 3:28 p.m. Committee meetings for Tuesday evening were cancelled, according to the Senate's website.
Ottawa paramedics told CTV News they did not respond to the Senate for any medical issues and the Ottawa Fire Service said they were not called either.
Alison Korn, spokesperson for the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, told CTV News Ottawa in an email that the opening of the nearby Rideau Canal Locks was to blame.
"Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has advised us that a sulfur smell was caused by the opening of the nearby Rideau Locks, which caused stagnant water to circulate," Korn wrote. "The air quality is being monitored. A complete air change will be done in the building before it is occupied tomorrow."
The Senate of Canada is located in the old railway building on Rideau Street near Sussex Drive, across from the Chateau Laurier. The Rideau Canal Locks are next to the Chateau Laurier, connecting the Rideau Canal to the Ottawa River behind Parliament Hill.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.