The race for the House Speaker’s chair has quickly become one of Parliament’s most compelling power struggles, with at least seven MPs from both sides of the aisle putting their names forward to preside over what promises to be a fractious new session.
After last month’s federal election delivered a minority Parliament with razor-thin margins, the Speaker’s role takes on heightened significance. Whoever holds the gavel will need to maintain order among increasingly polarized factions while casting potentially decisive tie-breaking votes.
“The Speaker’s chair has never been more consequential,” says Dr. Emmett Fraser, parliamentary historian at Carleton University. “In this political climate, we’re looking at someone who may need to break deadlocked votes weekly, not just once in a generation.”
Liberal MP Anthony Rota, who previously served as Speaker from 2019 until his resignation in 2023 following a controversial recognition incident, is seeking a comeback. “Parliament functions best when members respect the institution and each other,” Rota told reporters on Parliament Hill yesterday. “I believe my experience navigating difficult moments makes me well-suited to lead during these challenging times.”
The Conservative contingent includes four candidates, most notably Greg McLean, the Calgary Centre MP who has served on multiple parliamentary committees. McLean’s pitch centers on procedural fairness – a direct appeal to opposition concerns about government overreach.
“Canadians deserve a Parliament where every voice matters, not just the government’s,” McLean said during a campaign stop at the Parliamentary Press Gallery. “My commitment is to uphold the rights of every MP, regardless of party affiliation.”
Behind the scenes, the real politics are unfolding. The Speaker’s election, scheduled for June 3rd, will be Parliament’s first order of business before the Throne Speech. With the Liberals holding just 142 seats – six short of a majority – party discipline is paramount, but leadership knows some members have their eyes on the prestigious position.
Karen McCrimmon, Liberal MP for Kanata-Carleton, has been quietly building support among colleagues from all parties. During a community town hall in her riding last weekend, McCrimmon emphasized the need for decorum. “Parliament isn’t just another workplace – it’s where our democracy lives or dies by example,” she told constituents.
According to the latest Abacus Data poll, 72% of Canadians believe Parliament has become “too partisan and dysfunctional,” suggesting voters want a Speaker who can impose order. This public sentiment hasn’t gone unnoticed by candidates.
Conservative MP Lianne Rood, representing Lambton-Kent-Middlesex since 2019, has emphasized her rural Ontario background as providing perspective beyond the Ottawa bubble. “The Speaker must understand that what happens in that chamber matters to people who will never set foot there,” Rood explained during a radio interview with CBC’s The House.
The parliamentary arithmetic makes this race particularly interesting. The Speaker, traditionally drawn from the governing party, loses their regular voting privileges except to break ties. With such tight numbers, Liberal strategists are weighing whether they can afford to lose a voting member, while Conservatives see potential advantage in putting forward a compelling candidate.
“This isn’t just about who keeps order in the House,” notes former parliamentary clerk Thomas Hall. “It’s about who might cast the deciding vote on confidence matters or crucial legislation. The stakes couldn’t be higher.”
The NDP and Bloc Québécois, which hold 30 and 35 seats respectively, find themselves in kingmaker positions. Carol Hughes, the NDP’s deputy Speaker in the previous Parliament, has declined to run but may play an influential role in directing her party’s support.
Budget considerations also loom large. The Speaker’s office controls Parliament’s $615 million operating budget, giving them significant administrative influence beyond their chamber duties. Last fiscal year’s Parliamentary Protective Service expenditures alone topped $112 million, according to public accounts documents.
Lobbying has intensified as the vote approaches. Parliamentary tradition dictates candidates cannot openly campaign, but informal gatherings in the parliamentary restaurant and whispered conversations in Centre Block corridors have become commonplace.
“It’s the most polite knife fight you’ll ever see,” quipped one Liberal staffer who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “Everyone’s making their case with a smile while counting votes behind the scenes.”
The position comes with substantial perks – a salary bump to $274,500, the historic Speaker’s residence at Kingsmere in the Gatineau Hills, and enhanced ceremonial duties representing Parliament internationally. But veterans of parliamentary affairs stress the role’s challenges.
Peter Milliken, who served as Speaker from 2001 to 2011 – the longest tenure in Canadian history – recently cautioned potential candidates. “The Speaker must appear completely impartial while having deep partisan instincts,” he said during a University of Ottawa guest lecture. “It’s like asking a fish to forget water.”
With Parliament deeply divided on key issues like climate policy, healthcare funding, and national defense spending, the new Speaker will immediately face high-stakes rulings on points of order and questions of privilege.
As one Ottawa political consultant put it: “Whoever wins this race better have thick skin and quick reflexes. They’ll need both on day one.”
The secret ballot vote for Speaker will take place when Parliament returns, with candidates making brief speeches before their colleagues cast ballots. Through successive rounds of voting, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated until someone secures majority support.
Whether Parliament chooses experience, partisan balance, or regional representation remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Canada’s 45th Parliament will begin with one of its most consequential decisions – one that could shape legislative outcomes for years to come.
