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

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

Yahoo26-05-2025

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the Quebec riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, is the new Speaker of the House of Commons and will preside over what Prime Minister Mark Carney has told his caucus will be a "very, very" busy few weeks and months ahead.
The Speaker is an MP chosen in a secret ranked ballot by other MPs to preside over the business of the House of Commons, act as an impartial arbiter of House proceedings and maintain order during debates.
While the Speaker is elected to Parliament as a member of a party, they do not sit in any party caucus because the role is considered non-partisan.
"I will remind members that we are at the beginning of a mandate in the selfish hope that you will afford me a little grace period," he said after being ushered to the Speaker's chair by Carney and interim Opposition leader Andrew Scheer.
"Once again thank you for your confidence. I have few words, because well, we all have things we want to accomplish and we have been away. Thank you, colleagues."
WATCH | Carney thanks voters in his first House speech:
Carney stood in the House for the first time on Monday, thanking those who voted for him personally and all members of the House of Commons, before going on to congratulate Scarpaleggia.
"I have much to learn from the members of this great House," Carney said. "I will make mistakes. I have no doubt that you will call them out for good reason, because this House has rules, it has traditions and it's on those traditions that our Athenian democracy is founded," he said.
"Yes we are Athens, they are Rome," Carney said, referencing Scarpaleggia's campaign speech for the speakership earlier in the day. "We will prevail. We are in the golden age of Athens. Thank you Mr. Speaker, you have my support."
Scheer, who served as Speaker from 2011 to 2015, congratulated Scarpaleggia, telling the House that he has the support of the Conservative Party.
"You have taken charge of an office that's almost as old as Parliament itself," Scheer said Monday, noting seven previous speakers of the British House of Commons had been beheaded by the monarch."It might no longer be a requirement to stand up to kings and queens, but you may find yourself having to stand up to other offices of authority," Scheer said.
"If such an opportunity presents itself, we trust you will stand with those Speakers who came before you, who defended this institution on behalf of the people."
Scarpaleggia defeated Greg Fergus, the MP for the Quebec riding of Hull-Alymer who had served as Speaker since October 2023.
On Sunday evening, there were officially eight candidates for the post, but at the outset of Monday's proceedings in the House, Conservatives Chris d'Entremont, a Nova Scotia MP who served as deputy Speaker since 2021, and John Nater, who represents the Ontario riding of Perth-Wellington, pulled out of the race.
With both Conservative candidates withdrawing their names, that left five 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 greatest asset is its democracy'
Scarpaleggia was first elected to the House in the 2004 federal election and has been re-elected seven consecutive times since then.
From 2011 until 2021, he served as the Liberal caucus chair, and has chaired multiple Commons committees including environment and sustainable development, and electoral reform.
In his campaign speech in the House Monday morning, he said that it is possible to hold passionate, substantive, debates without engaging in personal insults or intimidation, and that if elected he would work to improve decorum in the Commons.
WATCH | Scarpaleggia elected Speaker:
"Canada's greatest asset is its democracy, and democracy lives and breathes here in this chamber," he said.
"It is rightly said that there can be no true freedom without order. Likewise, we can't have a truly meaningful exchange of ideas without an orderly, rules-based House of Commons."
Scarpaleggia said he was in favour of robust debate where "board-rattling" bodychecks take place in the corners, but that a problem begins to emerge "when sticks go high."
"Canadians want to see sticks on the ice and it's the responsibility of the Speaker to make this so," he said.
"Our neighbour to the south may be modern-day Rome in size and power; we are Athens in culture, values and democracy.… That is how we must see ourselves. That is who we must be."
A Speaker has the authority to demand that MPs apologize if they use unparliamentary language — and can even order a member removed from the chamber.
The Speaker also oversees the administration and finances of the House. They manage staff and communicate between the Senate and the Crown.
The Speaker earns a $99,900 top-up on their $209,800 MP salary, along with a car allowance. The job comes with a small apartment in West Block and an official estate in Gatineau Park known as The Farm.
There are some ceremonial duties that also come with the role, such as hosting dignitaries and diplomats and representing the Commons abroad, for which the Speaker has a large hospitality budget.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Auditor general finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages
Auditor general finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages

Hamilton Spectator

timean hour ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Auditor general finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages

OTTAWA - The estimated cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday in a new report. The fighter jet audit was one of eight tabled in the House of Commons by Hogan and environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco. The reports flag problematic procurement contracts, a backlog in applications for First Nations status and a delay in reducing the amount of federal office space. An investigation by the auditor general concluded that costs associated with the F-35 advanced fighter jet program are running $8.7 billion higher than the original estimates. And it warns the program is being plagued by delays and critical shortfalls — including a lack of qualified pilots. The report lands in the middle of an active review ordered by Prime Minister Mark Carney to examine possible alternatives to the F-35. He ordered the review in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada. National Defence said in 2022 the base price for the F-35s would be $19 billion. Just two years later, the number has climbed to $27.7 billion. That estimate does not include figures for infrastructure upgrades or weapons. The report says the department's 2022 estimates relied on outdated data from 2019 — despite the availability of better estimates showing 'that costs of the aircraft had already increased substantially.' The audit says issues associated with the global pandemic — such as runaway inflation, rising costs for facilities and munitions and volatile foreign exchange rates — pushed the price tag sky high. Defence Minister David McGuinty's office sent out a written statement to media that blamed the increased costs on 'external economic conditions driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, including global supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and increased inflation and foreign exchange rates.' 'In combination with increased global tensions and related impacts on the availability and demand for materials, we would not have been able to deliver the full scope of this project under our previous budget,' he said in the statement. But Hogan also warned Tuesday that the program faces 'significant risks that could jeopardize the timely introduction of the new fleet.' She said the department successfully identified the risks but has not planned appropriately to mitigate them. Construction of two new fighter squadron facilities — in Cold Lake, Alta., and Bagotville, Que. — is running three years behind schedule. The report says the facilities will not be ready until at least 2031 because the department needs to 'redo important elements' of their design. The department started planning the new facilities in 2020 before the government had settled on the F-35. The aircraft comes with significant infrastructure security requirements. 'Costs to develop an interim solution to support the new jets will further increase infrastructure expenses,' the report warned. It said the department produced a contingency plan to operate the aircraft from temporary facilities but the plan fell short because it was incomplete and offered 'no proposed actions nor a cost estimate.' Canada is also still short of qualified pilots to fly the advanced aircraft — despite being warned about this in 2018. The report said the F-35 program lacks measures to minimize potential risks and the department failed to produce robust contingency plans. It notes that the department identified cost overruns from inflation and currency fluctuations as potential risks to monitor, but plans to track those risks were never approved by officials. The Liberal government announced in 2017 it planned to purchase 88 new fighter jets. It signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the F-35s in 2023. The modern jets are needed to replace Canada's aging CF-18 fleet, which is nearing the end of its service life. The fighter jets are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2032. Over the next two years, the initial eight will be sent to a U.S. air force base in Arizona, where Canadian pilots will be trained to fly them. The rest will be delivered to Canada starting in 2028. The report said the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office conducted various assessments that uncovered 'significant issues,' such as 'insufficient departmental engineering personnel to service support equipment for both the CF-18 Hornet and CF-35A during the transition.' The audit said that at the end of the last fiscal year in March, National Defence earmarked $935 million for the U.S. government for the first four jets and related items needed to produce another eight aircraft. It says about $197 million has been paid out already. On top of that, National Defence spent another $516 million on the project, including $270 million in infrastructure costs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 10, 2025.

Fewer Americans are visiting Canada. Ad campaigns assure them they're welcome here
Fewer Americans are visiting Canada. Ad campaigns assure them they're welcome here

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Fewer Americans are visiting Canada. Ad campaigns assure them they're welcome here

Late last year, Dan Davis of Cleveland, Ohio, began planning a motorcycle trip with friends this summer that includes several days in Ontario. But those plans became a little uncertain after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January and imposed tariffs on Canada, sparking a trade war. That, coupled with Trump's frequent threats to make Canada the 51st state, has sparked anger among many Canadians. Davis noted that, in February, Canadians booed the U.S. national anthem at several NHL hockey games, and in March, the Canadian government ran a billboard campaign in a dozen U.S. states, including Ohio, declaring that Trump's "tariffs are a tax." "Those things just made us wonder, 'Wow, are we going to be welcome in Canada?' " said Davis, adding that the licence plates on the group's motorcycles reveal they're from Ohio — a state Trump won in the 2024 election. "On a motorcycle, you're a little more vulnerable," he said. "All it takes is one person to say, 'You know what, I'm going to show these guys a lesson,' whether it's vandalizing a bike or … throwing a beer can at you." Fewer U.S. tourists visiting Canada Since Trump took office and Canada-U.S. relations have become strained, fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S., and fewer Americans are coming to Canada. The number of trips Americans took to Canada by car declined 10.7 per cent in April and 8.4 per cent in May compared to the same time last year. Air travel declined 5.5 per cent in April and 0.3 per cent in May. Some tourism associations worry a number of Americans may be staying away because they fear a chilly reception, so they've launched ad campaigns which assure their neighbours they'll be warmly welcomed. It's a worthy cause considering what's at stake: The majority of Canada's tourists come from the U.S., and they spent $15.3 billion in the country last year. "It was really important for us to send the message to these visitors … that they are truly welcome, not to be scared to visit us," said Isabelle Charlebois, general director of Tourism Eastern Townships, a region in southeastern Quebec near the U.S. border. The group launched a TV ad in late May, running in New England and New York state. Set in the Eastern Townships, it shows a U.S. tourist whispering sheepishly to a hotel clerk that he's American. The clerk smiles knowingly, and gives the American a big, warm hug. "Come hug it out in the Eastern Townships," says the tagline. WATCH | Quebec tourism group offers to 'hug it out': Charlebois says the ad campaign was partly inspired by the fact that local tourism operators were fielding numerous calls from concerned Americans. "They were calling … asking if they should postpone their trip, or if they will be welcome in Quebec," she said. "This relationship we have with our neighbour is really important for us. That's why we sent this message, and I hope it works." 'Perception is reality' In May, out of the 200 businesses surveyed by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, 32 per cent reported lower summer bookings by Americans compared to the same time last year. John Kinney, owner of Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, says, so far this season, his location just outside Niagara Falls has seen 15 per cent fewer American customers compared to this time last year. "Unfortunately, perception is reality," said Kinney. "If it's perceived that there's political woes, people say, 'I hear Myrtle Beach is nice.' They just go to a completely different area." To encourage Americans to heard north, Niagara Falls Tourism has launched a page on its website just for them. Along with listing attractions, it declares, "To our friends in the U.S.A. — we can't wait to welcome you!" Back in Cleveland, Davis spotted a billboard last week on the highway and says he took it as a sign he's welcome in Canada. This time, instead of denouncing Trump's tariffs, the billboard invited Americans to visit Ontario and take advantage of the low Canadian dollar. Destination Ontario, the province's tourism organization, launched the campaign in several U.S. states last month. "It's good to see that they are encouraging visitors," said Davis, who is now looking forward to his Ontario trip. "We all just need to come together as human beings on both sides of the border and embrace each other." B.C. bear tour operators beckon Americans Over on the West Coast, British Columbia businesses that specialize in bear viewing are also rolling out the welcome mat. More than a dozen took part in a video, posted on YouTube on May 30, which promises Americans "open arms" and "warm hospitality." B.C.'s Commercial Bear Viewing Association, which put together the ad, says it will soon be launched as part of a social media campaign in select U.S. markets. WATCH | B.C. businesses welcome U.S. tourists: Marg Leehane, general manager of Great Bear Lodge in Campbell River, B.C., shouted out, "You're always welcome," in the video. It's a message she hopes will resonate, as American bookings at her lodge are down by 28 per cent so far compared to this time last year. "Americans always make up a good percentage of our visitors, and we're disappointed to not have them coming," she said. "I think they're worried the political message will get reflected on them. But of course, that's not how most Canadians feel." Leehane says she's getting more Canadian bookings this year than usual, which helps offset the decline in American customers. Still, she worries that decline could have lasting repercussions. "We don't want to lose that pipeline of American visitors," she said. "They would have come back as repeat guests. So it's not just this year that we would lose out on those visitors, it's the future years." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Israel's allies impose sanctions on ministers over West Bank violence
Israel's allies impose sanctions on ministers over West Bank violence

Washington Post

timean hour ago

  • Washington Post

Israel's allies impose sanctions on ministers over West Bank violence

A group of Western nations allied with Israel announced sanctions Tuesday against two far-right ministers they say have incited violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway all said in a statement that they were taking measures against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — both ultranationalist settler leaders and members of Israel's coalition government.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store