Montreal

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante reducing workload after news conference collapse

The mayor was standing at a lectern answering questions from reporters when she abruptly crouched down and then sat on the floor, saying "oh no, I feel unwell" in French.

Mayor abruptly sat on the ground during Q&A with reporters

A woman stands at a lectern in front of a set of flags.
Valérie Plante spoke and answered questions for around 15 minutes before the incident. (Radio-Canada)

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante will reduce her workload over the coming days after collapsing to the floor during a morning news conference at a municipal building on Tuesday.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Plante said she was examined by a medical team and is doing well.

As a preventive measure, Plante wrote, she will "slow the rhythm of her activities over the coming days" and will miss Tuesday's Ville-Marie borough council meeting. 

Plante was standing at a lectern answering questions from reporters in a building being used as the temporary city hall when she abruptly crouched and then sat down.

A woman is sitting on a small stage, with another woman crouching over her and a man waving nearby.
Staff quickly came to Plante's side after she sat down, and asked members of the media to leave the room soon after. (Radio-Canada)

"Oh no. I feel unwell," she said in French.

Aides rushed to her side and, for a moment, Plante rested her head on one aide's knee. Reporters and cameras were then asked to leave the room.

Plante had been speaking and answering questions for about 15 minutes before the incident, with no obvious signs of illness.