Canada’s MPs set to elect Speaker as Parliament resumes

Parliament has returned in Ottawa with choosing the new Speaker of the House of Commons the first order of business for MPs.

The last Speaker, Liberal MP Greg Fergus, is seeking to regain his role.

He is up against five other Liberal colleagues, after Conservative MPs John Nater and Chris d’Entremont, the latter who served as former deputy Speaker in the last Parliament, withdrew their names from consideration.

Liberal MPs Sean Casey, Alexandra Mendes, Rob Oliphant, Sherry Romanado and Francis Scarpaleggia put their names forward.

 

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May also backed out of the running as she’s the only party MP and being Speaker would limit her ability to weigh in on issues.

The Speaker plays an important role in keeping the chamber functioning smoothly – especially in minority parliaments, which can become raucous and upend the government’s agenda.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

The role is expected to be non-partisan and is tasked with overseeing the proceedings of the day, ruling on complaints of breaches of procedure or of MP privileges, and generally enforcing decorum and conduct.

A Liberal MP as Speaker means the party will drop to 168 seats, though it does little to change the need of the government to get support from other parties to pass legislation and survive confidence votes.

The job also comes with a diplomatic component and some significant perks — including a $309,000 annual salary, a driver, a sizable hospitality budget and an official residence on a rustic country estate in Gatineau Park.

—with files from The Canadian Press

&copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.