Sen. Patrick Brazeau is said to be recovering after collapsing on the Senate floor on Wednesday in the midst of debate on the federal government’s major projects bill.
Brazeau, 50, rose to speak shortly after 4 p.m. before falling over sideways onto the floor.
A Senate spokesman says Brazeau appears to be recovering following an examination by paramedics.
Speaker Raymonde Gagné suspended proceedings for roughly half an hour, and many senators left the chamber until she reconvened the debate.
Gagné thanked security officials and colleagues for responding quickly.
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Brazeau 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
A programming motion adopted by the chamber fixes the bill to a strict schedule, with a final vote that must take place by the end of Friday.
The politically charged legislation has upset Indigenous and environmental groups who criticize the government for rushing to grant itself sweeping new powers to fast-track project permits.
But Carney has said Canada is facing an economic crisis due to the trade war with the U.S. and the country urgently needs to approve new “nation-building” projects.
The bill found broad support in the Commons, where the Conservatives voted with the Liberals to pass it at third reading 306 votes to 31 last week, with one Liberal MP voting against it.
—With files from Kyle Duggan and Alessia Passafiume
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