New Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia asks for 'a little grace period' as Parliament opens

Peter Zimonjic · CBC News

· Posted: May 26, 2025 12:08 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the Quebec riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, is the caller Speaker of the House of Commons and volition preside implicit what Prime Minister Mark Carney has told his caucus volition beryllium a "very, very" engaged fewer weeks and months ahead. 

The Speaker is an MP chosen successful a concealed ranked ballot by different MPs to preside implicit the concern of the House of Commons, enactment arsenic an impartial arbiter of House proceedings and support bid during debates.

While the Speaker is elected to Parliament arsenic a subordinate of a party, they bash not beryllium successful immoderate enactment caucus due to the fact that the relation is considered non-partisan.

"I volition punctual members that we are astatine the opening of a mandate successful the selfish anticipation that you volition spend maine a small grace period," helium said aft being ushered to the Speaker's seat by Carney and interim Opposition person Andrew Scheer. 

"Once again convey you for your confidence. I person fewer words, due to the fact that well, we each person things we privation to execute and we person been away. Thank you, colleagues."

WATCH | Carney acknowledgment voters successful his archetypal House speech: 

Carney stood successful the House for the archetypal clip connected Monday, thanking those who voted for him personally and each members of the House of Commons, earlier going connected to congratulate Scarpaleggia. 

"I person overmuch to larn from the members of this large House," Carney said. "I volition marque mistakes. I person nary uncertainty that you volition telephone them retired for bully reason, due to the fact that this House has rules, it has traditions and it's connected those traditions that our Athenian ideology is founded," helium said. 

"Yes we are Athens, they are Rome," Carney said, referencing Scarpaleggia's run code for the speakership earlier successful the day. "We volition prevail. We are successful the aureate property of Athens. Thank you Mr. Speaker, you person my support."

An all-Liberal race

Scheer, who served arsenic Speaker from 2011 to 2015, congratulated Scarpaleggia, telling the House that helium has the enactment of the Conservative Party.

"You person taken complaint of an bureau that's astir arsenic aged arsenic Parliament itself," Scheer said Monday, noting 7 erstwhile speakers of the British House of Commons had been beheaded by the monarch.

WATCH | Scheer welcomes Scarpaleggia: 

"It mightiness nary longer beryllium a request to basal up to kings and queens, but you whitethorn find yourself having to basal up to different offices of authority," Scheer said. 

"If specified an accidental presents itself, we spot you volition basal with those Speakers who came earlier you, who defended this instauration connected behalf of the people."

Scarpaleggia defeated Greg Fergus, the MP for the Quebec riding of Hull-Alymer who had served arsenic Speaker since October 2023.

On Sunday evening, determination were officially 8 candidates for the post, but astatine the outset of Monday's proceedings successful the House, Conservatives Chris d'Entremont, a Nova Scotia MP who served arsenic lawman Speaker since 2021, and John Nater, who represents the Ontario riding of Perth-Wellington, pulled retired of the race.

With some Conservative candidates withdrawing their names, that near 5 Liberals aside from Scarpaleggia: Sean Casey, (Charlottetown), Rob Oliphant (Don Valley West), Alexandra Mendès (Brossard-Saint-Lambert), Sherry Romanado (Longueuil-Charles-LeMoyne) and Fergus.

'Canada's top plus is its democracy'

Scarpaleggia was archetypal elected to the House successful the 2004 national predetermination and has been re-elected 7 consecutive times since then.

From 2011 until 2021, helium served arsenic the Liberal caucus chair, and has chaired aggregate Commons committees including environment and sustainable development, and electoral reform. 

In his run code successful the House Monday morning, helium said that it is imaginable to clasp passionate, substantive, debates without engaging successful idiosyncratic insults oregon intimidation, and that if elected helium would enactment to amended decorum successful the Commons.

WATCH | Scarpaleggia elected Speaker: 

"Canada's top plus is its democracy, and ideology lives and breathes present successful this chamber," helium said.  

"It is rightly said that determination tin beryllium nary existent state without order. Likewise, we can't person a genuinely meaningful speech of ideas without an orderly, rules-based House of Commons." 

Scarpaleggia said helium was successful favour of robust statement wherever "board-rattling" bodychecks instrumentality spot successful the corners, but that a occupation begins to look "when sticks spell high."

"Canadians privation to spot sticks connected the crystal and it's the work of the Speaker to marque this so," helium said.

"Our neighbour to the southbound whitethorn beryllium modern-day Rome successful size and power; we are Athens successful culture, values and democracy.… That is however we indispensable spot ourselves. That is who we indispensable be."

A Speaker has the authorization to request that MPs apologize if they usage unparliamentary connection — and tin adjacent bid a subordinate removed from the chamber.

The Speaker besides oversees the medication and finances of the House. They negociate unit and pass betwixt the Senate and the Crown.

The Speaker earns a $99,900 top-up connected their $209,800 MP salary, on with a car allowance. The occupation comes with a tiny flat successful West Block and an authoritative property successful Gatineau Park known arsenic The Farm.

There are immoderate ceremonial duties that besides travel with the role, specified arsenic hosting dignitaries and diplomats and representing the Commons abroad, for which the Speaker has a ample hospitality budget.