What to know about Canada's new House Speaker
CTV
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 prestigious role.
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 becomes Canada's 38th Speaker and the first Black Canadian to hold the prestigious role. Fergus, 54, takes on the job as MPs' impartial adjudicator in the wake of Parliament facing international headline-grabbing acrimony.
"Respect is a fundamental part of what we do here. We need to make sure that we treat each other with respect, that we show Canadians the example, because there can be no dialogue unless there's a mutual understanding of respect," Fergus said in his first remarks from the Speaker's chair, following an hours-long election process and a standing ovation from his fellow MPs.
"There can be no ability to pursue the arguments, to make your points be heard, unless we all agree to extend to each other that sense of respect," Fergus continued, pledging to carry out his duties with firmness and impartiality.
"So I'm going to be working hard on this, and I need all of your help to make this happen. Because this is the place where hard debates will happen."
Fergus was first elected to the House in 2015, representing the National Capital Region riding of Hull-Aylmer, Que. Though, his "lifelong love" of Parliament and experience in the Commons dates back decades.
A self-admitted subscriber to Hansard since age 14, in 1988 he then became a parliamentary page, awed by "the majesty of this sanctum of democracy."
