Margaret Thatcher (the cat) is dead

In a dramatic and comical mistake in communication, Canadian Transport Minister John Baird alerted Canadian Parliament that Margaret Thatcher was dead. the message caused a degree of panic and influenced the prime minister to contact Buckingham Palace to ascertain Thatcher's health. However the reality of the situation was that Baird's message actually referred to his cat who shared the same name, Margaret Thatcher.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/091112/oddities/canada_britain_politics_thatcher_offbeat