Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the Quebec riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, is the new Speaker of the House of Commons and will preside over what Prime Minister Mark Carney has told his caucus will be a “very, very” busy few weeks and months ahead.Â
The Speaker is an MP chosen in a secret ranked ballot by other MPs to preside over the business of the House of Commons, act as an impartial arbiter of House proceedings and maintain order during debates.
While the Speaker is elected to Parliament as a member of a party, they do not sit in any party caucus because the role is considered non-partisan.
“I will remind members that we are at the beginning of a mandate in the selfish hope that you will afford me a little grace period,” he said after being ushered to the Speaker’s chair by Carney and interim Opposition leader Andrew Scheer.Â
“Once again thank you for your confidence. I have few words, because well, we all have things we want to accomplish and we have been away. Thank you, colleagues.”
Francis Scarpaleggia was elected Monday as the new Speaker of the House of Commons. Scarpaleggia, the Liberal member from Lac-Saint-Louis, Que., is now responsible for presiding over the business concerning Parliament in an impartial matter while maintaining order during debate between MPs.
Carney stood in the House for the first time on Monday, thanking those who voted for him personally and all members of the House of Commons, before going on to congratulate Scarpaleggia.Â
“I have much to learn from the members of this great House,” Carney said. “I will make mistakes. I have no doubt that you will call them out for good reason, because this House has rules, it has traditions and it’s on those traditions that our Athenian democracy is founded,” he said.Â
“Yes we are Athens, they are Rome,” Carney said, pointing to the opposition benches. “We will prevail. We are in the golden age of Athens. “Thank you Mr. Speaker, you have my support.”
An all-Liberal race
Scheer, who served as Speaker from 2011 to 2015, congratulated Scarpaleggia, telling the House that he has the support of the Conservative Party.Â
“You have taken charge of an office that’s almost as old as Parliament itself,” Scheer said Monday, noting seven previous speakers of the British House of Commons had been beheaded by the monarch.
“It might no longer be a requirement to stand up to kings and queens, but you may find yourself having to stand up to other offices of authority,” Scheer said.Â
“If such an opportunity presents itself, we trust you will stand with those Speakers who came before you, who defended this institution on behalf of the people.”
Scarpaleggia defeated Greg Fergus, the MP for the Quebec riding of Hull-Alymer who had served as Speaker since October 2023.
On Sunday evening, there were officially eight candidates for the post, but at the outset of Monday’s proceedings in the House, Conservatives Chris d’Entremont, a Nova Scotia MP who served as deputy Speaker since 2021, and John Nater, who represents the Ontario riding of Perth-Wellington, pulled out of the race.
With both Conservative candidates withdrawing their names, that left five Liberals aside from Scarpaleggia: Sean Casey, (Charlottetown), Rob Oliphant (Don Valley West), Alexandra Mendès (Brossard-Saint-Lambert), Sherry Romanado (Longueuil-Charles-LeMoyne) and Fergus.
