A few weeks back, YouTube video of Conservative MP Rob Anders coming down with a case of the nods in the House of Commons caused a bit of a stir.

On Sunday, NDP MP Bruce Hyer appeared to suffer a similar affliction during the NDP leadership debate in Ottawa. Unfortunately for him, he was seated just over the shoulder of two top leadership contenders and wearing an attention-grabbing bright green shirt. His long blinks were very much caught on tape.

Hyer's downward glancing started early, with a very long blink during an early statement from Brian Topp.

Later, during the French portion of the debate, his less-than-rapt attention was even more apparent, as he pulled out a tablet (computer) and shared whatever was on it with a seatmate. He didn't look up from his device when Mulcair mentioned speaking to First Nations leaders in Hyer's riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North. (Mulcair was speaking in French at the time.) 

He appeared to experience another case of the nods during Mulcair's closing statement.

Hyer's eyelids did not go unnoticed on Twitter. But after the debate, Hyer himself tweeted his impressions of the debate:

@brucehyer 1st #NDPldr debate was great, good points by all. Will consult notes I took and follow up with Qs of my own to candidates! #ndp#cdnpoli

Hyer is assigned to limited duties for the NDP at the moment, after voting against his caucus and with the government on legislation to scrap the long-gun registry.

Tags: ndp leadership race