# Speaker elected! {Canada} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 3, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063 "2023-10-03T20:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/1 "2023-10-03T20:12:47Z")
In the Canadian House of Commons šŸ˜ I donā€™t know if many non-Canadian Dopers were following the story, but the Speaker of our House of Commons had a major faux-pas two weeks ago, when President Zelenskyy was addressing a joint session. After the Presidentā€™s speech, the Speaker rose to introduce a Ukrainian vet in his 90s from the Speakerā€™s riding who had fought against the Soviets in WWII. Quick quiz: what units were fighting against the Soviets? Nazi units. Huge mistake by the Speaker, feeding into the Russian line that Ukrainians are Nazis. Speaker Rota resigned a week ago. The Commons has been operating with an interim Speaker (a senior MP from the Bloc quĆ©bĆ©cois), but today elected a new Speaker, in an hour of secret ballots, with seven candidates. Itā€™s not revealed how many ballots it took, nor what the margin of victory was, because in our system, the Speaker assumes a non-partisan role. The new Speaker is Greg Fergus, a Liberal from Gatineau, Quebec, across the Ottawa River from Ottawa. As is the custom, he was escorted to the Speakerā€™s chair by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, to show that he was the choice of the House as a whole. > **[Liberal Greg Fergus makes history, elected first Black House Speaker](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberal-greg-fergus-makes-history-elected-first-black-house-speaker-1.6586482)** > > Liberal MP Greg Fergus is Canada's new House of Commons Speaker, following a secret ranked ballot election on Tuesday. It is a day for the political history books as Fergus, once a parliamentary page, becomes the first Black Canadian to hold the... ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/2 "2023-10-03T20:17:59Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > After the Presidentā€™s speech, the Speaker rose to introduce a Ukrainian vet in his 90s from the Speakerā€™s riding who had fought against the Soviets in WWII. Quick quiz: what units were fighting against the Soviets? Nazi units. Huge mistake by the Speaker, feeding into the Russian line that Ukrainians are Nazis. Wow, I had missed that whole story. What a moron! He needed to resign. Needless to say, the real issue that Putin has with Ukraine is that Ukraine is aligned with western democratic values and not with the tsarist imperialism of Mother Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/3 "2023-10-03T20:20:12Z")
The first person of color to ever assume Speakership someone wrote! Interesting! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/4 "2023-10-03T20:20:29Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Wow, I had missed that whole story Itā€™s been in the papers and everything. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/5 "2023-10-03T20:21:48Z")
In Canada, yes. Thereā€™ve been Black Speakers elsewhere in the Commonwealth. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/6 "2023-10-03T20:24:47Z")
I guess too much time spent on the Dope, not enough on CBC News. I get a surprising amount of news from CBC Radio, but thatā€™s only when Iā€™m out driving around, which I havenā€™t been doing much lately. Thatā€™s my excuse, anyway! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/7 "2023-10-03T20:26:28Z")
Iā€™ll just leave this here: > [@Canadian Politics 2022-2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-politics-2022-2023/962633/287): > > How the hell could this be allowed to happen? Why has the Speaker not resigned? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/8 "2023-10-03T20:29:57Z")
At the time he hadnā€™t resigned, you realize. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/9 "2023-10-03T20:37:16Z")
More info on the candidates and what they proposed they would do. It was a ranked-choice secret ballot, so only one ballot cast, not clear how many rounds it took for Fergus to get a majority. > **[Liberal MP Greg Fergus elected Speaker of the House of Commons | RCI](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/2014783/liberal-mp-greg-fergus-elected-speaker-of-the-house-of-commons)** > > New Speaker's first task will be to help Parliament turn the page on Yaroslav Hunka affair ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/10 "2023-10-04T23:06:04Z")
Can we borrow your Speaker on alternate days? Weā€™re one shy of our quota. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/11 "2023-10-05T00:23:02Z")
ā€œBack off! Get your own ~~sandwich~~ Speaker!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/12 "2023-10-05T01:05:36Z")
Where did the tradition of the Canadian Speaker being reluctantly dragged by the PM and Opposition Leader to the podium come from? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/13 "2023-10-05T01:47:32Z")
Dates back to the English House of Commons, when the position of Speaker, carrying messages from the Commons to the King, potentially posed some hazards. Not all Speakers-elect were keen on taking the chair, and legend is that some had to be dragged to the chair. Nowadays, itā€™s meant as a symbol that the Speaker is the choice of all the House, and is not the voice of either the Government or the Opposition. The Speaker is trusted by all members to rule impartially on points of order and keeping the House business moving, without any role in the introduction of legislation Quite different from the US model. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/14 "2023-10-05T05:33:03Z")
And the Westminster Speaker has a general role promoting/representational/ceremonial role, and also acts as impartial chair of committees/conferences on the operations of Parliament and elections. [https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/the-speaker/](https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/the-speaker/) ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/15 "2023-10-05T10:33:29Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Nowadays, itā€™s meant as a symbol that the Speaker is the choice of all the House, and is not the voice of either the Government or the Opposition. Unless you are the Leader of the Opposition and you prefer to refer to The Former Guy as the ā€œLiberal Speakerā€ because it suits your narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaker-elected-canada/991063/16 "2023-12-15T16:32:19Z")
Well, that was fast. Speaker Fergus is in trouble. Not as serious as the last guy, strikes me, but still an issue. Speaker Rota had to resign because of inviting a Nazi to be honoured in the chamber. Speaker Fergus is in trouble because he prepared a video to congratulate a retiring Ontario Liberal. Problem is, he did the video in his Speakerā€™s office, wearing his Speakerā€™s robes. Since the Speaker is intended to be non-partisan, this has raised some eyebrows. Speaker Fergus said he had been asked to do it by a member of his friendā€™s family, and thought it would only be used privately. Instead, it was played at a public retirement event, hosted by the provincial Liberal party (I think). Speaker Fergus has apologised profusely, and said he will resign if that is the will of the Commons. The Commons referred the matter to its internal committee on Procedure and House Affairs. The referral was with all-party support. After an expedited review, the Committee reported yesterday. Did not call for Speaker Fergus to resign for his clear mistep, Instead, the Committee recommends: > [@](#): > > - Fergus to ā€œreimburse a suitable amount for the use of parliamentary resourcesā€ that he used but were not related ā€œto the performance of parliamentary functions.ā€ > > - Fergus to issue ā€œanotherā€ apology clearly stating that the video was ā€œinappropriateā€ and expressing his ā€œremorseā€ alongside a ā€œclear outlineā€ of what his office will do to ensure this does not happen again. > > - House administration to beef up its briefing binder for incoming Speakers to make clear the ā€œboundaries for impartiality and non-partisanship.ā€ > > The committee also wants to see Fergus re-affirm in his apology that ā€œthe principle of respect, impartiality, and decorum are values he will continue to prioritize as Speaker.ā€ > **[House Speaker Greg Fergus avoids majority resignation call, asked to pay a...](https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/house-speaker-greg-fergus-avoids-majority-resignation-call-asked-to-pay-a-fine-apologize-again-1.6687056)** > > House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus appears poised to hold on to the speakership despite the controversy over his 'inappropriate' personal video message to a long-time Liberal friend, as MPs have passed a report calling on him to pay a fine and...