MPs view 'surreal' celestial event from Parliament Hill

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“At this level, no one cares what celebration you are in — you are simply people taking in a phenomenon,” Liberal MP Jaime Battiste says.

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The Canadian Press

Alessia Passafiume

Printed Apr 08, 2024  •  Final up to date 26 minutes in the past  •  2 minute learn

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OTTAWA — Not even the very important enterprise of Parliament was sufficient to maintain MPs from slipping outdoors to glimpse celestial historical past.

Dozens of elected officers, together with Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre, gathered on the Hill to crane their necks skyward.

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As darkness descended, Poilievre — from behind a pair of standard-issue eclipse glasses — described the second as “surreal.”

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“It actually does really feel like a special world,” Poilievre stated because the air cooled round him.

“I hope everyone has a superb time, that no one stares too lengthy on the solar — as a result of we would like them to have the ability to learn their briefing notes after they get again to the Home,” he added with a chuckle.

Justin Trudeau was noticed taking within the spectacle from the roof of the constructing that homes the Prime Minister’s Workplace.

Standing on a small patch of grass, Liberal MP Jaime Battiste known as it one of many greatest highlights of his time on the Hill.

“It type of humbles you,” stated Battiste, nonetheless sporting his eclipse glasses. “At this level, no one cares what celebration you’re in — you’re simply people taking in a phenomenon.”

Parliamentary actions had been briefly suspended to permit MPs and their employees members to benefit from the partial eclipse, stated Surroundings Minister Steven Guilbeault, who smiled as he took within the sight.

“Thousands and thousands of individuals on this nation are very excited,” stated Guilbeault, earlier than promptly placing his glasses again on to catch one other look.

Liberal MP Marco Mendicino, his eyes towards the sky, merely stated: “Cool.”

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NDP MP Leah Gazan shared fun with fellow parliamentarians Lori Idlout and Jenny Kwan as they watched the moon drift throughout the solar.

“It looks as if it possibly must be extra thrilling than what appeared,” stated Kwan shortly after she eliminated her glasses.

“However they are saying this isn’t going to happen for one more 300 years. I’m fairly positive by then I gained’t be alive, so it’s now or by no means.”

Idlout, in the meantime, had one thing past the solar and moon on her thoughts: “I’m actually much more excited that it’s my colleague Leah Gazan’s birthday right this moment.”

Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez stated witnessing the sight was a “large second.” However as a big truck tried to drive previous the place Rodriguez was planted on the street, he moved out the way in which in hopes of stopping one other.

“That may be a much bigger one if it hit me,” he laughed.

Additional down Wellington Road, the international interference inquiry additionally paused briefly to let attorneys, witnesses and journalists may watch the present.

They stood outdoors the Library and Archives constructing in downtown Ottawa because the sky darkened, some sharing their eclipse glasses.

With recordsdata from Anja Karadeglija.

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