House Elects Scheer as New Speaker

Andrew Scheer became the youngest Speaker in the history of Canada and possibly the Commonwealth.
House Elects Scheer as New Speaker
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) and Jack Layton (L), Leader of the Official Opposition, drag Andrew Scheer (C), the new Speaker of the House of Commons, to his chair. PMO Photo by Jill Thompson
Matthew Little
Updated:

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20110602_PM_Andrew_Scheer_medium.JPG"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20110602_PM_Andrew_Scheer_medium.JPG" alt="Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) and Jack Layton (L), Leader of the Official Opposition, drag Andrew Scheer (C), the new Speaker of the House of Commons, to his chair. (PMO Photo by Jill Thompson)" title="Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) and Jack Layton (L), Leader of the Official Opposition, drag Andrew Scheer (C), the new Speaker of the House of Commons, to his chair. (PMO Photo by Jill Thompson)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-126638"/></a>
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) and Jack Layton (L), Leader of the Official Opposition, drag Andrew Scheer (C), the new Speaker of the House of Commons, to his chair. (PMO Photo by Jill Thompson)

PARLIAMENT HILL, Ottawa—Andrew Scheer was elected by his fellow MPs Thursday as Speaker of the House of Commons, the youngest Speaker in the history of Canada and possibly the Commonwealth.

The voting started late, not a surprise given the entire point of being there was to choose the person who would keep things on schedule. Some MPs tried pounding on their desks, or clapping authoritatively to get the process started, but most meandered around the centre isle chatting with colleagues before what was to be a long day of voting. Scheer emerged victorious after six rounds.

The Speaker of the House of Commons is one part referee, one part mediator, and another part landlord. He runs the precinct known as Parliament Hill, both the staff of House of Commons and the gothic revival buildings they work in.

He chairs the Board of Internal Economy, the somewhat secretive committee that governs the administration and finances of the Hill, including MP expenses. And from time to time he hands down the fateful judgements that can change the fortunes of a government.

He also functions as an unofficial ambassador, greeting and hosting foreign dignitaries from around the world, often at catered events at the Speaker’s Gatineau Hills estate just north of the capital that comes complete with gardeners and a $170,000 hospitality budget to wine and dine dignitaries.

And of course, he presides over debates, specifically the antics of question period, where opposition MPs try to embarrass the government with rapid fire bursts of sound bite questions.

A list of eight let their names stand for the job. All candidates mentioned the need to improve decorum in the house, though some more stridently than others, promising a firmer hand to keep the House in order.

Scheer, by contrast was relatively light in his remarks, even taking a moment to joke about his age, saying he knew some were concerned, as he was starting to get a bit old. He also quoted from the speech of another relatively young man seeking the Speakers chair, the United Kingdom’s John Bercow, who went on to become (and still serves as) the country’s youngest Speaker in modern times. However, Bercow was 14 years Scheer’s senior, 46, at the time of his election, compared to Scheer’s 32.

Bercow told his Parliament of an exchange he had when he was testing the water for his candidacy for Speaker.

“One of my first approaches was to a particularly distinguished colleague whom I would not dream of identifying. I asked if he would back me today. ‘Certainly not, Bercow. You are not just too young—you are far too young. Given that, in my judgment, the Speaker ought to be virtually senile.’”

While other candidates got vigorous applause, none got the same amount of laughs.

For the most part, candidate’s speeches centred around the need for better civility in the house and a swift rise in the level of decorum.

Dean Allison, who didn’t get past the first of a total six rounds of voting, said MPs had to be loyal to their parties, but not to the point it lowered the bar for their behaviour.

“We must remember that this is not the time for political posturing and self aggrandizement.”

Lee Richardson, who made it to the second last round, said a “firm guiding hand” was needed to get the House in order. He promised to make Parliament an honourable place for debate.

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/IMG_4809_medium.JPG"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/IMG_4809_medium.JPG" alt="The NDP's Denise Savoie speaks with reporters after losing her campaign to be Speaker of the House of Commons to Conservative Andrew Scheer, the youngest speaker in Canadian and possibly Commonwealth history. (Matthew Little/The Epoch Times)" title="The NDP's Denise Savoie speaks with reporters after losing her campaign to be Speaker of the House of Commons to Conservative Andrew Scheer, the youngest speaker in Canadian and possibly Commonwealth history. (Matthew Little/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-126639"/></a>
The NDP's Denise Savoie speaks with reporters after losing her campaign to be Speaker of the House of Commons to Conservative Andrew Scheer, the youngest speaker in Canadian and possibly Commonwealth history. (Matthew Little/The Epoch Times)
The NDP’s Denise Savoie, from Victoria, B.C., made it to the final round of voting with Scheer. Like him, she served as one of three deputy Speakers in the previous Parliament. She said her singular focus would be to raise the tone of debate to a level that restores the confidence of Canadians in the parliamentary process.

But she said she only wanted the support of MPs who were committed to that process.

Scheer said that under him, bad behaviour will not go unpunished and MPs who refuse to pipe down after repeated requests could find themselves unacknowledged when they want to rise to ask a question in question period. He also said the on-the-job experience he has had with five years as deputy speaker have prepared him well.

With his wife holding his newborn baby and both his parents watching from the gallery above, Scheer took his position at the Speaker’s chair between the opposing benches of the House of Commons. As per tradition, he had to be forced to his seat, accompanied like a new bride with Prime Minister Stephen Harper holding him by one arm and Official Opposition leader Jack Layton jabbing him in the back with his cane from the other side.

In his first act as Speaker, Scheer acknowledged the PM’s wish to speak.

“I know this is something you have been preparing yourself for, through very hard work, for a long time,” said Harper.

“You are the custodian of a great parliamentary tradition.”

Harper said Scheer was the nation’s top referee and linesman, drawing a metaphor from the world of hockey. Harper promised they will try to make sure there are no fights needing to be broken up.

Layton rose as well, and promised there would be no heckling from the NDP, a pledge that Liberal Leader Bob Rae immediately joked wouldn’t last long.

“I know we are all deeply in favour of decorous behaviour,” said Rae. “But I’m also a profound realist.”

Green leader and sole Green MP Elizabeth May also stood for the first time in the House and jokingly offered that her entire caucus would also restrain itself from heckling.

Matthew Little
Matthew Little
Author
Matthew Little is a senior editor with Epoch Health.
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