Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia has been elected as the new Speaker of the House of Commons, marking the formal start of Canada’s 45th Parliament. The longtime representative for Lac–Saint–Louis, who has held his seat since 2004, was chosen by fellow MPs through a ranked secret ballot and will now take on one of Parliament’s most important roles.“Thank you for your confidence,” Scarpaleggia told colleagues from the Speaker’s chair. “We all have things we want to accomplish, and we’ve been away.” He asked MPs for a “grace period” as he adjusts to the demands of the position.
His election comes at a moment of political transition. The new session follows a whirlwind few months in federal politics: Parliament was prorogued last December after Justin Trudeau stepped down. In March, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership and was sworn in as Prime Minister. Last month’s snap election gave the Liberals a minority government with 169 seats, just three short of a majority, while the Conservatives secured 144.
Scarpaleggia beat out five other Liberal contenders, including outgoing Speaker Greg Fergus, to take the role. His selection means the Liberals now effectively have one fewer voting MP, as the Speaker does not participate in debates and only casts a vote to break ties. Conservative MPs Chris d’Entremont and John Nater had initially entered the race but withdrew before the vote.
The Speaker’s job goes far beyond moderating debates in the House. Scarpaleggia will be responsible for upholding parliamentary procedure, managing internal House administration, and serving as a representative in official and diplomatic functions. Once elected, Speakers must set aside party loyalties and cease attending party caucus meetings, a key part of maintaining impartiality.
Prime Minister Carney acknowledged the gravity of the moment in his address to the House: “Mr. Speaker, I have much to learn from the members of this great House. I will make mistakes — and I have no doubt you will call them out. This House has rules and traditions, and they are the foundation of our democracy.”
Andrew Scheer, now the House Leader for the Conservatives following Pierre Poilievre’s election defeat, echoed the sentiment: “Debates should be lively and passionate because the lives of Canadians are directly affected by the decisions we make in this room.”
Leaders from all major parties, the Bloc Québécois, NDP, and Green Party offered their congratulations to the new Speaker. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who had briefly considered running, withdrew from the contest, citing her responsibility to represent her party’s voice in debates.
The House adjourned after observing a moment of silence for victims of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy in Vancouver, and will resume Tuesday. King Charles III is expected to deliver the speech from the throne, setting out the government’s legislative agenda for the months ahead.