Latest news with #Scarpaleggia
Epoch Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia Elected as New House Speaker
Veteran Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia has been elected as House Speaker in the first procedure of the new House of Commons. MPs chose Scarpaleggia in a secret ranked ballot on May 26, the first sitting day of the new Parliament. Scarpaleggia is an MP from the Montreal area who was first elected to the House in 2004. He has Scarpaleggia is replacing in the role Liberal MP Greg Fergus, who had a tumultuous term and failed in his bid to get re-elected. Scarpaleggia acknowledged Fergus in his acceptance speech and noted he had taken the role at a 'difficult moment, at the end of a mandate when things tend to get a little feistier.' 'I would 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 told MPs in the House of Commons. Only Liberal MPs had appeared on the final ballot, with Tory MPs Chris d'Entremont and John Nater pulling out of the race without explanation before pronouncing their candidacy speeches in the House on May 26. D'Entremont had served as deputy Speaker in the previous Parliament. Related Stories 5/25/2025 5/25/2025 The other candidates running included Prince Edward Island MP Sean Casey, Quebec MPs Alexandra Mendès and Sherry Romanado, and Toronto MP Robert Oliphant. Mendès had previously served as assistant deputy Speaker. The role of the Speaker is to apply the procedures of the House, maintain order, and defend the rights and privileges of MPs. The Speaker is expected to be politically neutral in the role to the greatest extent. The Speaker also chairs the group which oversees the administration and finances of the Commons. The position comes with a $100,000 pay bump, a driver, and an official residence known as the Farm, a four-acre property located in Gatineau Park. As is customary, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer dragged Scarpaleggia from the House floor to the Speaker's chair. The tradition reflects the Middle Ages when the king could put the Speaker to death for voicing the Commons' unwelcome stance, making the role quite risky. 'I have much to learn from the members of this great House,' Carney said after Scarpaleggia took his chair. '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.' 'We are Athens. They are Rome,' Carney added echoing what Scarpaleggia had said in his candidacy speech. Scarpaleggia had said that the United States may be modern Rome in 'size and power,' but Canada is Athens in 'culture, values, and democracy.' In his speech before the vote, Scarpaleggia leaned on his experience, saying he spent 10 years in the opposition and 10 years in government. He said this has prepared him for the 'challenge of finding the right balance between respect and order on the one hand, and vigorous debate that clarifies the issues on the other.' In his speech welcoming Scarpaleggia to his new role, Scheer asked him to let MPs have 'lively' and 'passionate' debates, saying the House is where the government is held to account. 'The lives of Canadians are changed by the decisions we make, and so it is normal that members get enthusiastic and fiery when the stakes are so high,' he said. 'Often the best thing you can do is allow the players to play a little bit. Controversies Scarpaleggia is the successor of two Speakers who were involved in controversies. Liberal MP Anthony Rota stepped down from the speakership after a former Ukrainian Nazi SS soldier was mistakenly invited to the House for the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023. He was replaced by Fergus, who faced several calls to step down including an unsuccessful vote in the House in May 2024. Conservatives tabled a motion accusing Fergus of 'ongoing and repetitive partisan conduct outside of the Chamber.' The motion was defeated with the Liberals and NDP voting against it. This was the third call made by the Tories to have Fergus step down. It came after the Liberal Party had advertised an event with Fergus which used criticism of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the promotional material. His office said the riding association was responsible for the ad and not Fergus. The Liberal Party subsequently apologized to Fergus. Fergus oversaw a heated Commons at times and he had several disputes with Tory MPs. He While there was some tension with the Opposition, Fergus also made a ruling in the fall that had a significant impact on House proceedings and allowed an Opposition filibuster. The House ordered the production of documents related to the federal green fund, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, after it was found by the auditor general to be rife with conflicts of interest, with board directors giving taxpayer dollars to their own companies. With the government not providing a full disclosure, Fergus ruled it amounted to a prima facie case of privilege. Conservatives followed with a motion to refer the matter to a House committee which ended up being debated for days on end. This effectively ground House business to a halt, with no bills being passed. Rota during his tenure had also challenged the Liberal government, again around a House order for the production of documents. This time it was for the Winnipeg lab documents relating to the firing of two Chinese scientists on security grounds. The government took Rota to court to avoid the disclosure before Parliament was dissolved. The new Speaker Scarpaleggia will again oversee House matters in a minority government, albeit a stronger one. Liberals have 169 seats, three seats shy of a majority. Conservatives are also stronger with 144 seats, while the balance of power will again reside with the NDP and Bloc Québécois. Each party has lost many seats, and the NDP also lost its official party status. The election of the Speaker was the only item on the agenda for the first day of the new Parliament. The Royals arrived in Canada on May 26 and King Charles III will read the speech from the throne on May 27 to outline the new Liberal government's agenda.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Francis Scarpaleggia net worth: The financial footprint of the 39th Speaker of the House of Commons
Image: Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the Quebec riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, just stepped into a pretty big role: he's now the new Speaker of the House of Commons. That's a major gig in Canadian politics. Chosen through a secret ranked ballot by fellow MPs, the Speaker keeps things running smoothly in the House—moderating debates, keeping order, and staying totally neutral. Right after winning the vote, Scarpaleggia joked with his colleagues, '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.' Fair ask, right? He's now officially the 39th Speaker of the House. So who is Francis Scarpaleggia? Francis was born in Montreal on June 6, 1957, and grew up in Laval and the Town of Mount Royal. His background is a mix of Italian, Irish, and French-Canadian roots. Education-wise, he didn't mess around, he's got an economics degree from McGill, a master's from Columbia, and an MBA from Concordia. He got into politics in the '80s, starting off as a volunteer with the Quebec Liberal Party. From 1994 to 2004, he worked behind the scenes as a legislative assistant to MP Clifford Lincoln. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo Then in 2004, he got elected as an MP himself, and he's been re-elected every time since. Before politics, Scarpaleggia had a solid career in the private sector, working with companies like Petro-Canada and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He later switched gears and taught business at Dawson College in Montreal. So yeah, he's been around the block in both business and education. These days, he lives in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, with his wife Jan Ramsay and their two daughters. Friends and colleagues say he's all about public service and staying close to his community. Low-key, but deeply committed. So what about his net worth? Well, the exact figure is unknown, Francis hasn't gone public with his personal finances, and Canadian MPs aren't required to disclose that info. But here's what we do know: as Speaker of the House of Commons, Scarpaleggia is now earning CA$309,700 a year. That includes a base MP salary of CA$209,800, plus CA$99,900 for his added responsibilities as Speaker. It's a solid income, especially stacked on top of a long career that spans the corporate world, education, and public service. At the end of the day, Scarpaleggia has got decades of experience, a steady reputation, and now, one of the most important jobs in Parliament. That kind of success speaks for itself.
Canada Standard
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Francis Scarpaleggia elected speaker of Canada's House of Commons
Xinhua 26 May 2025, 22:45 GMT+10 OTTAWA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Canada's Liberal member of parliament Francis Scarpaleggia was elected the 39th speaker of the country's House of Commons on Monday as the newly-elected members of parliament returned after a five-month break to choose a new Liberal leader and hold a general election. Scarpaleggia, born in June 1957, represents the riding of Lac-Saint-Louis in Quebec. He was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2004 federal election, and was re-elected consecutively for seven times. Elected by fellow members of parliament through a secret ballot, the speaker oversees the sittings and proceedings of the House, maintaining order and decorum in the chamber, providing impartial interpretation of its rules, and defending the rights and privileges of its members. The speaker also oversees the House of Commons administration, serves as its spokesperson in its relations with the Senate, the Crown, and other bodies outside the parliament, and fulfills various ceremonial and diplomatic duties. Mark Carney's Liberal Party has won the parliamentary elections in Canada last month. The Liberals are sitting at 169 seats and Conservatives remain in official opposition, with 144 seats.
Calgary Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected new speaker of the House of Commons
OTTAWA — Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia is the new speaker of the House of Commons, promising to bring back order and respect to the House as he presides over a new minority Parliament. Article content Article content The longtime backbench MP was elected by his peers on Monday morning as the 39th speaker of the House of Commons during a jovial first sitting of the House of Commons since December. Article content Article content It is unclear if the joviality will last in this minority Parliament as the final months of the Justin Trudeau government were tainted by a raucous and bellicose House marked by expulsions of MPs, mostly Conservative. Article content Article content During his pitch to MPs before they voted for the speaker, Scarpaleggia said there must be limits to the attacks by Parliamentary opponents. After his election, he jokingly implored his colleagues to give him time to settle in before testing him. Article content 'There's nothing wrong with a clean, even board-rattling, polemical body check in the corners. I've been at the receiving end of a few. Robust debate is fundamental to a robust democracy, and a robust democracy is what makes for resilience,' the longtime Liberal backbencher told MPs before his election. Article content 'The problem is 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 continued. 'I believe it possible to skillfully and convincingly dissect and refute an argument without recourse to personal invective or intimidation.' Article content Article content After symbolically dragging the new speaker to his chair, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition leader Andrew Scheer both wished Scarpaleggia well in his new role. Article content 'I will make mistakes, and I have no doubt that you will call them out for good reason,' Carney said with a smile during his first ever address in the House of Commons. Article content 'Mr. Speaker, we offer you our support,' said Scheer, noting that recent speakers have had to deal with a wide array of issues ranging from nudity to explicit language to 'flying elbows.' Article content 'I did hear that CPAC was considering putting a warning on the daily broadcast may contain violence, coarse language and nudity,' he joked. Article content Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, interim NDP Leader Don Davies and Green Party head Elizabeth May also extended their best wishes to the new speaker.
Vancouver Sun
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected new speaker of the House of Commons
OTTAWA — Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia is the new speaker of the House of Commons, promising to bring back order and respect to the House as he presides over a new minority Parliament. The longtime backbench MP was elected by his peers on Monday morning as the 39th speaker of the House of Commons during a jovial first sitting of the House of Commons since December. It is unclear if the joviality will last in this minority Parliament as the final months of the Justin Trudeau government were tainted by a raucous and bellicose House marked by expulsions of MPs, mostly Conservative. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. During his pitch to MPs before they voted for the speaker, Scarpaleggia said there must be limits to the attacks by Parliamentary opponents. After his election, he jokingly implored his colleagues to give him time to settle in before testing him. 'There's nothing wrong with a clean, even board-rattling, polemical body check in the corners. I've been at the receiving end of a few. Robust debate is fundamental to a robust democracy, and a robust democracy is what makes for resilience,' the longtime Liberal backbencher told MPs before his election. 'The problem is 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 continued. 'I believe it possible to skillfully and convincingly dissect and refute an argument without recourse to personal invective or intimidation.' After symbolically dragging the new speaker to his chair, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition leader Andrew Scheer both wished Scarpaleggia well in his new role. 'I will make mistakes, and I have no doubt that you will call them out for good reason,' Carney said with a smile during his first ever address in the House of Commons. 'Mr. Speaker, we offer you our support,' said Scheer, noting that recent speakers have had to deal with a wide array of issues ranging from nudity to explicit language to 'flying elbows.' 'I did hear that CPAC was considering putting a warning on the daily broadcast may contain violence, coarse language and nudity,' he joked. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, interim NDP Leader Don Davies and Green Party head Elizabeth May also extended their best wishes to the new speaker. Scarpaleggia defeated five of his Liberal colleagues to win the speakership: incumbent Greg Fergus, Sean Casey, Alexandra Mendès, Robert Oliphant and Sherry Romanado. On Sunday evening, two Conservatives — Chris d'Entremont and John Nater — were also on the ballot. But the start of the election Monday morning, both Conservative candidates pulled out, paving the way for a Liberal MP to become speaker once again. D'Entremont's last-second retreat came as a surprise to many in the House, as late last week the veteran Conservative MP pitched himself to National Post as the voice of experience and reason for the job. In many ways, the first day of a new Parliament looks and sounds like the first day back in school. Before the cameras turn on, MPs crowd the aisles to greet their colleagues of all political stripes, welcome neophytes, congratulate new cabinet members or even get in a quick chat with the prime minister. Minutes before proceedings began, Carney and Opposition Leader in the House of Commons Andrew Scheer exchanged with a smile from their respective seats across the aisle. The proceedings began with Bloc Québécois MP Louis Plamondon, a 41-year incumbent and the dean of the House, opening the new Parliament to preside over the speaker election. But before, he shared a few words of wisdom acquired over four decades of federal politics. 'One piece of advice I've already given here in the House is, of course, to manage your frustrations,' he told new and veteran MP. 'You may have questions like, 'why wasn't I appointed minister? Why wasn't I appointed as a critic?' But the feeling passes with time.' His second piece of advice for newcomers was twofold: 'speak up when you have something to say', but also remember that when speaking to journalists, 'one wrong word, and it changes your career.' Peter Milliken, the longest-sitting Speaker in Commons history and creator of the Speaker's Scotch tradition , overlooked the proceedings from the visitors' gallery, even getting a shout out from Oliphant during his speech. The six candidates were then given five minutes to pitch themselves to their colleagues. All promised to return decorum and respect in the House, though their methods differed. Casey argued that there should have been 'more expulsions' in the last Parliament over colleagues who defied the speaker or refused to withdraw unparliamentary language. 'What's worse is that this lack of respect for Parliament has actually been used as ammunition to raise funds. Sadly, this demonstrates the current state of decline' of decorum, he said, adding that he aimed to 'raise the bar' in how MPs treat each other. Fergus, the incumbent speaker, pitched himself as the candidate of experience who knew how to manoeuvre in a minority Parliament. He admitted that he had made some faux pas during his tenure but compared himself to a 'reliable car with experience' that now has a 'couple of dents'. 'To be frank, it would have been a difficult time for anyone in that role,' he said of the last, raucous session where 'tempers ran high, and cooperation ran low'. Mendès, previously a deputy speaker who is currently undergoing treatments for cancer, said she would strive to bring more stability to the Commons and noted that a woman has never been elected speaker. 'This is the place where Canada's most important conversations should be held, where we seriously debate and humorously disagree,' she said. Oliphant promised to uphold Parliamentary dignity while having 'zero tolerance' for unparliamentary behaviour, which he promised to crack down on 'no matter where it comes from.' Romanado promised to be 'fair, firm and consistent' in upholding the rules of the House, while Scarpaleggia said he would be the defender of the backbenchers, which he has been all his political life. After candidates finished their speeches, MPs lined up to fill out their vote in one of six booths in the centre aisle before dropping their ballot into an ornate wood box. Carney cast his first ever speaker vote by putting his ballot into the box and then tapping twice on the slot as if to wish it safe travels. National Post cnardi@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here . Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .
