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Jonathan Genest-Jourdain: NDP MP Falls Asleep, Combs His Hair In House Of Commons (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post Canada   First Posted: 02/15/2012 9:53 am Updated: 02/16/2012 3:18 pm

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At 32 years of age, the NDP's NDP Jonathan Genest-Jourdain is one of the younger Quebec MPs in Parliament. And it looks like he may have stayed out past his bedtime.

The MP for Manicouagan can be seen sleeping and doing his hair in the House of Commons in a video from February 6.

While fellow New Democrat Yves Godin rails against government subsidies for Caterpillar, Genest-Jourdain uses what appears to be his phone to examine himself while he carefully coifs his man mane.

Then, as NDP MP Françoise Boivin argues against the elimination of the long-gun registry, Genest-Jourdain takes a nap.

Genest-Jourdain isn't the first, or likely the last, to catch some zzz's in the House. Last year, Conservative MP Rob Anders was caught on video sleeping during Question Period. Anders later blamed the effects of a car accident for the snoozing.

It will be interesting to see if Genest-Jourdain comes up with an explanation of his own.

Video via SleepyRobAnders on YouTube.

Loading Slideshow...

  • How Much Do Our MPs Make?

    Here's a rundown of <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Lists/Salaries.aspx?Menu=HOC-Politic&Section=03d93c58-f843-49b3-9653-84275c23f3fb&Year=2011" target="_hplink">how much our MPs make</a> depending on their position in the House. (Alamy)

  • MP - $157,731

    The base salary for a Member of Parliament is $157,731. Being named to cabinet or other positions nets an MP extra pay. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scazon/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Scazon</a>)

  • Government and Opposition Whip - $186,151

    NDP MP Nycole Turmel is the Official Opposition Whip. (CP)

  • Leaders of Other Parties - $211,425

    Bob Rae is the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. (CP)

  • Minister of State - $214,368

    Tim Uppal is the Minister of State for Democratic Reform. Ministers of State are essentially junior cabinet ministers. (CP)

  • Cabinet Minister - $233,247

    Jim Flaherty is Minister of Finance. (CP) All ministers also receive a car allowance of $2,122.

  • Leader of the Opposition - $233,247

    As NDP chief, Thomas Mulair is leader of the Official Opposition. He also receives a $2,122 car allowance. (CP)

  • Speaker of the House - $233,247

    Andrew Scheer is currently serving as speaker. On top of his salary, Scheer receives a rent allowance of $3,000 and a car allowance of $1,061. (CP)

  • Prime Minister - $315,462

    As Prime Minister, Stephen Harper also receives a car allowance of $2,112. (AP)

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At 32 years of age, the NDP's NDP Jonathan Genest-Jourdain is one of the younger Quebec MPs in Parliament. And it looks like he may have stayed out past his bedtime. The MP for Manicouagan can be s...
At 32 years of age, the NDP's NDP Jonathan Genest-Jourdain is one of the younger Quebec MPs in Parliament. And it looks like he may have stayed out past his bedtime. The MP for Manicouagan can be s...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Charismatron
105 Fans
02:11 AM on 02/18/2012
I *think* I just might be able to do his job.
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KEON14
28 Fans
11:08 AM on 02/16/2012
Take the new internet law and see what surfing kept him up late last night. I'm sure he was doing research on the economic impact of the canadian manufacturing sector. The phone thing must have been him checking stats and accidentally noticed a hair out of place.
Do I hear a baby crying?
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tommythesaint
85 Fans
 
03:16 AM on 02/16/2012
I can't say I really blame him. I used to have to sit through the readings of bills and it took all my energy to stifle yawns. He's not the first doze off either, just the one caught on camera most recently.
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liveurownlife
14 Fans
10:35 PM on 02/15/2012
His mother must be so proud!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
giantsteps
92 Fans
 
08:46 PM on 02/15/2012
Where are these people found, in the land of stupidity????
Permalink  |
Gerard Danjou
3 Fans
08:01 PM on 02/15/2012
is he really in the parliament for us tax payers,or just there collecting his huge pension at the end of day,hummmm ,I wonder,,
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Mrs Robinsons
42 Fans
05:13 PM on 02/15/2012
This bothers me as much as the people who sip their coffee loudly during lectures...
a paid chit for four years...
while we all suffer...
if they understood it
they'd be actively listening.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Adrian31
60% of the time, it works everytime...
305 Fans
03:42 PM on 02/15/2012
If it weren't for the Liberal Party not having any vision for Canada, I'd say they'd be looking better and better each day, haha! Unfortunately they can't seem to get the party in order to, for lack of better terminology, strike while the iron is hot.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DidiM
Human 'being'
159 Fans
 
08:13 PM on 02/15/2012
How can they be looking better or have any "vision" when it's the same "Players" or should I say "Captains" of the ship they SUNK ? Add to that - They KNEW from 1996 - when their numbers started to fall in Quebec - and throughout all the ensuing election -- that their numbers in Quebec (The crucial deciding vote) continued to first slide downward, and then plummet downward - and finally end up in the 'toilet"... and throughout it all - they deliberately continued on the same path - making one STUPID decision after another - believing they had the "captive Anglo vote" all tied up. Now are these the people that are in any way shape or form - 'qualified to govern our country and oversee OUR MONEY - or God forbid -- carry out Our Wishes to Our benefit? They have done NOTHING Of the Sort for decades - Quite the Opposite is what they've done - in FACT: Trust me: This former lifelong Liberal voter - will never, ever - EVER consider ANYTHING they have to say again. Then that's just me :):)
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saskatoonie
387 Fans
02:00 PM on 02/15/2012
I used to get annoyed with people who fell asleep like this, I then met my husband and his father who when it is warm and they are sitting down they instantly fall asleep. My husband even fell asleep at a noisy circus, no not Parliament, the actual circus. Some people can't help it!
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Murman
I read the news today, oh boy.
106 Fans
05:42 PM on 02/15/2012
I agree - I too can't sit still for too long or it's 'nitey-nite'. I used to regularly fall asleep on an open motorcar zooming down the tracks when I worked on the rail as a young man. If my buddy hadn't of grabbed me by the collar a few times I would have been rolling down some pretty nasty geography.....But come on - if you're in a public job like this you better have some tactics to help you stay awake, at least. I don't know much about this guy, but it looks like he's found his dream job...so to speak.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DidiM
Human 'being'
159 Fans
 
08:16 PM on 02/15/2012
Do they fall asleep on the job? Wow, must have a super duper boss :):) Are there any openings available?
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saskatoonie
387 Fans
11:28 PM on 02/15/2012
My husband and his father were dairy farmers, they didn't sit down on the job!
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Natacha GelinLisaint
17 Fans
01:34 PM on 02/15/2012
His got great hair.
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CDNwhatever
0 Fans
01:03 PM on 02/15/2012
The guy was looking at his phone... get over it. Sheesh.
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CarlyQ
Without followers, evil cannot spread.
827 Fans
08:13 PM on 02/15/2012
Yes, he was...the Mirror App (I have one, too).
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DidiM
Human 'being'
159 Fans
 
08:17 PM on 02/15/2012
Yes he was and right after that he fell asleep :) Our Tax dollars hard at work :) And we wonder how come we're broke!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nanaofmysky
Adopt from a rescue or shelter.
182 Fans
 
12:22 PM on 02/15/2012
Well at least he showed up. It looks like most didn't. Maybe he was just checking his phone . I think they should have to show up for at least 85% of these. No matter how borring they are. Their salary should depend on attendence. Is it not why they were put in office to do the best for the people who elected them in the first place. Hope his explanation is made public too. Give him a chance to defend himself.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Marg Wood
Peace
310 Fans
12:48 PM on 02/15/2012
Of course this is not acceptable! However I have never seen anyone asleep and not see a single movement! Not even breathing! He should pay attention to what's going on and not be combing his hair. I am not sure that the video was not tampered with though, as fare as the sleeping goes!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Adrian31
60% of the time, it works everytime...
305 Fans
03:44 PM on 02/15/2012
'Not showing up' vs. 'Sleeping while present' = Same thing
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Arrowhead2k8
40 Fans
12:21 PM on 02/15/2012
The NDP MPs from Quebec are such a fluke as they are a joke. What a daft province for voting them in.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DidiM
Human 'being'
159 Fans
 
12:43 PM on 02/15/2012
Hey compared to the Fiberals we 'used to vote in' - a sleeping MP is a heck of a lot better - than the 'nationalist fiberals' destruction of all our rights and freedoms and ERASURE of our English Language - they illegally helped enact and to this day - endorse!! So sleep away - mon ami - it much safer for all of us.
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SamEasy
You really don`t want to know.
458 Fans
02:24 PM on 02/15/2012
And the REFORMERS are working diligently to erode our rights as well with their ignorant, illogical proposed legislation. And in the pattern of the royally screwed up US of A.
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PortlandZoo
Wait... what?
2271 Fans
03:36 PM on 02/15/2012
LOL - destruction of our rights and freedoms!!!! oh no! You can't possibly be Canadian - you sound like a true murrican tea bagger. And btw, Canada had two languages when it was founded and it has two now - get over it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DidiM
Human 'being'
159 Fans
 
08:19 PM on 02/15/2012
Excuse me: Compared to who... the FIBERALS - who've made a HABIT of deceiving their supporters and the country for over 40 years ... that you voted in? The Pot should not call the kettle black, my friend.
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evlv66
20 Fans
12:20 PM on 02/15/2012
Oops... NDP is on guard... for poor people... and against rich.... :)
Vote for NDP!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
701 Fans
11:34 AM on 02/15/2012
Low blood sugar perhaps?

Next story?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DidiM
Human 'being'
159 Fans
 
08:21 PM on 02/15/2012
Well he can get a superb physical - with all the medical 'Perks' - he has access to - that we of course do not.
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