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Content warning: This story contains mention of suicide.

Monday’s afternoon sitting of the legislature was temporarily adjourned after a body was found on the building’s front steps.

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A person died by suicide after a firearm was shot on the legislature grounds shortly after 3 p.m.

At 3:12 p.m., Peace River MLA Dan Williams was giving a passionate speech in the legislature in an attempt to keep alive his private members’ bill about health-care workers’ conscience rights.

Speaker Nathan Cooper interrupted Williams, saying, “There is an issue that is important to the assembly.”

He asked MLAs to leave the chamber and go to their lounges, promising to provide an update later. They stood up and made their way out.

Outside, a person wearing blue jeans, colourful socks and a dark jacket was lying immobile near the bottom of the building’s front stone steps. At least a dozen police officers surrounded the body, and one officer draped a red blanket over the person.