OTTAWA (CU)_Another humiliating zoom meeting was reported from Canada, as MP William Amos was caught stark naked during a virtual meeting of the House of Commons on Wednesday (14 April). The pandemic has forced Canadian lawmakers to conduct session via video conferencing instead of in person and during the meeting held yesterday, the representative of the Quebec district of Pontiac appeared on the screens of his fellow MPs standing completely naked behind a desk between the Canadian and Quebec flags.
Responding to the incident, Amos issues a statement via email, in which he said it was “an unfortunate error”.
“My video was accidentally turned on as I was changing into my work clothes after going for a jog. I sincerely apologise to my colleagues in the House of Commons for this unintentional distraction. Obviously, it was an honest mistake and it won’t happen again,” his statement read.
Speaker Anthony Rota said that although he had not seen anything, technicians however had confirmed that they saw something. Therefore, he urged lawmakers to be vigilant not only when participating in virtual meetings, but also whenever they are near a camera of microphone.
Meanwhile, Claude DeBellefeuille, a member of the opposition Bloc Quebecois party, raised the incident in a point of order, highlighting that parliamentary decorum requires male legislators to wear a jacket and tie, as well as a shirt, underwear and trousers.
Nevertheless, Liberal Party member Mark Holland defended his colleague saying Amos was “utterly mortified” and that his explanation was satisfactory.
“I don’t think there was any ill intent. It’s certainly an unfortunate circumstance,” Holland said. “This is a warning to everybody… You’ve got to really always assume that camera is on and be very careful anytime you wander anywhere near that camera that you’re dressed appropriately.”
Fortunately, Amos was not speaking at the time of the incident, which meant that his image was only visible to Parliament members and staffers and not to the public.
