Six MPs, all Liberal, vie for House Speakership. Watch their speeches

pursuant to standing order three

pursuant to standing order three I invite Mr Plondo member for Bon Nichollet al- Noak to take the chair as

member presiding over the election of the speaker

Pursuant to standing order three I invite Mr member for Nico to take the chair as the

member presiding over the election of the speaker

I would like to congratulate all of you on your

election It's very

important We are all elected here because we believe in democracy and we support it Congratulations again to all

of you I see that there are many new members Maybe one of you will one day

beat my 41year standing record And for all younger or newer MPs

I'd like to repeat a piece of advice that I've already given here in the House It is important to manage your

emotions especially frustration Some asked me why I'm not a spokesperson

why I was never a minister Well sometimes we experience frustration but

we get over it over time A second piece of advice for new

members only speak when you have something intelligent to say

Let me explain I'm saying this in French because if I

were to say it in English I would also need translation as I do when I speak

French In this place we have the best journalists in Canada When they

interview us they don't interview us for no reason You need to be very well

prepared because if you say one wrong word it can change the course of your career

sometimes I'd like to share an anecdote that I've already shared with uh

previous MPs I was first elected in

1984 when I was a brand new MP I made three

statements which went against what my party believed in At our first caucus

meeting a senator who seemed very old to me Now I

think back on it and he doesn't seem so old He said to me "Come and see me."

After the caucus meeting I went to see him in his office We had a very short meeting He said "Look at the

wall." And uh on the wall he said "Do you see what I have on my wall

here this is a fish a a dead fish And if he had just shut his mouth he would

still be alive."

He said "Well in politics it's the same." Now I'm going to speak English received

by email last list the last last night the list of

candidates for the speaking speaker the list of numbers who have

withdraw and the list of number who have in ineligible ineligible as

candidate this list are also available at the table and our uh on our comments

if members will to cancel them before the vote Uh

before we begin I want to invite any member whose name is on the list of candidates but who does not want to

stand for election to rise and inform the chair accordingly

Westington Westington Thank you very much Dean of the House of

Commons It is great to see you preside over this for the seventh time I wish to

withdraw my name for speaker Thank you

The honorable member for Akadi

A good speaker knows when to keep their speeches short Uh can you withdraw my name from the ballot please

we will revise the list of candidates

There will be a total of six

candidates to standing order 3.1 The house must proceed to the speech from

each candidate for the speakerhip

uh nonwithstanding uh any standing area or any usual

procedure and pro p proise had up by the house

and to help the new members to identify the candidates for the office of speaker I will recognize in alphabetical order

each candidate by name and by electoral district When the last candidate to address the

house completes his or her speech I will leave

the chair for 30 minutes After which numbers will proceed to the election of

the speaker each number have five minutes

for the speech I invite I invite now to

call up Mr

Congrat to to address the house for not more than 5

minutes Mr Speaker I would first like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the

traditional unseated territory of the Alangquin people who have lived here for

millennia We acknowledge the lasting presence of indigenous peoples first

nations Inuit and Matei on this territory Parliament and the office of the speaker have declined at an

accelerating pace over the last decade From 2003 to 2017 not a single member of

parliament was asked to withdraw for disregarding the authority of the speaker Compare that to the last eight

years where nine members have been kicked out of the chamber for violating the rules of debate refusing to withdraw

in parliamentary language failing to apologize for their conduct and defying

the speaker I have witnessed almost all of these incidents and frankly there

should have been more expulsions 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 dorm

It is not okay That Mr speaker is why I stand

before you to offer my candidacy for the office of speaker and I do so with some

degree of optimism

Only members of parliament can res restore and rebuild trust in our

institutions About onethird of members here are new to the house

I don't think any of them campaigned on a promise to shout the most in the house

or promising to insult other members of

parliament and especially not in to insult the speaker him or

herself They were elected because they promised to represent their constituents

here with dignity and hard work and to focus on constituents rather than

on their next Instagram video We members of parliament have a

significant role to play in restoring trust in this house

and in the speakerhip members in wanting a reset After thousands of interactions

with constituents during the course of the campaign I can't imagine that anyone

held up the current state of civility in parliament with pride We owe Canadians a genuine effort

to raise the bar in how we treat each other A new session with so many new

faces offers a fresh start and a real chance to lead by example If you agree

that the conditions and the timing are right to make a meaningful change then I

offer my experience and approach to lead that reset

Before I got into politics I was a lawyer and a business person

I had to respect the administration of justice and the law

I had to respect the opposing bench I also had to vigorously defend my client

Those were part and parcel of my duties as a lawyer I had to follow rules of

procedure which was essential to be efficient

that allowed me to build values of equity structure and

impartiality which are qualities essential to being speaker I was elected to parliament for the first time in

2011 I was one of just a few new members in the party I was reelected in

2015 and appointed parliamentary secretary to three different

ministers More recently I presided over a standing

committee At age 48 I committed to becoming bilingual and achieved a C level I'm

very proud of that accomplishment

I've served with four different speakers and have learned what works and what doesn't First it is vitally important

for the speaker to set the tone early and rigorously A collegial approach

cajoling repeat offenders has proven ineffective The current state of debate requires the consistent application of

progressive discipline I offer the experience the tone and the temperament to deliver exactly that I would be

honored with your support to lead a collective effort to rebuild respect in parliament

Thank you Mr Speaker

I now ask Mr Greg Fergus the honorable member for Hull Almer to address the house for not more than five minutes

Mr President Mr Speaker thank you I'd like to recognize that we are on the

unseeded territory of the Alonges people Since time immemorial indigenous peoples

have met here to exchange to share and to collaborate That is what Canadians

expect from us here in the House of Commons Today a similar spirit assembles us

Some of us for the first time some since 1984 I was elected speaker in the second

half of a minority parliament When I was elected I promised to be a collaborative

and well thought speaker a speaker that would serve all parliamentarians

Tempers ran high and cooperation was low It was in that context that I learned

the ropes of the job often getting it right and when I didn't putting in place

measures to continually improve To be frank it would have been a difficult

time for anyone in that role We find ourselves in a new minority parliament A

new parliament is a new beginning but we don't have to start at the beginning Although I continue to stand by my

values for mutual respect between members the business of parliament must

get done without transparenc with transparency with integrity with

accountability and without gamesmanship This is what Canadians

expect from us At my first question period I asked you to treat me like a new car Try not

to get a dent on me on the first day Well I got one

day There are now a couple of dents but I'm still running I'm now a reliable car

with expire with experience And that's when I that's how

I learned what all speakers eventually discover You don't become speaker by

just putting on the robes You learn the role through experience

president It's not just the gown that makes you speaker You become a speaker with

experience That experience I've already obtained and now I want to implement it

for this 45th legislature Presiding over debates in

this house is the most visible part of the role However the speaker also has a very

important diplomatic role to play Canada needs friendships around the world From the early days of my

speakership I insisted that Canada show our solidarity with Ukraine And I'm proud to have organized an all party

diplomat parliamentary mission to Ukraine During the long train ride into

Ukraine under the cover of darkness with the protection of the Canadian Armed Forces seated with my colleagues from

the Conservatives the BL the NDP and the Liberals working together we developed

lasting friendships with Ukrainians and strengthened their network of support in

their time of need This is another example of parliament at its best

More than ever Canada needs strong friendships everywhere Throughout the

world I have forged strong ties of friendship to put forward our parliament's interests This experience

will serve for the success of the speaker's

G7 meeting that will happen later this summer Another role of the speaker

happens here As the CEO of about 2,500 members

of staff I support the services that uh support your rights and privileges as

parliamentarians Money was well spent We took steps never taken before We started

a new audit process We implemented robust new security measures in and around Parliament Hill in your

constituencies at your offices and at your home And we did this so that you

and your family can do can feel safe while you do your job

It's with this wealth of experience that I ask for your support for my reelection

I gained the experience necessary to implement changes that are essential

starting today Dance but it also has character The engine is strong and I

know the road Let's go together

I will now call happen Mr Robert

I will now call upon Mrs Alexandre Mendes the honorable member for Brar Salon to address the house for not more

than five minutes Thank you Mr Speaker

Dear colleagues I rise today to let my name stand to be your speaker I will try

to be brief and to the point and like other colleagues I did not spend the last few days on emails or phone calls

asking for your support Mostly because as you may know I some of you may know

anyways I was diagnosed with cancer at the end of January and I have been undergoing intense treatment ever since

Thanks to a phenomenal team and the many volunteers who raised their hand to help me through the campaign I find myself

representing the citizens of Brarard St Lambert once more and I couldn't be

more After a successful re-election I wanted to ensure my health situation would allow me to stand for this role I

spent many hours reflecting on my next steps both from a personal and professional level I do wish to take

this moment to thank many of you in this chamber who sent me messages of encouragement in the past weeks and

months From text messages to phone calls and emails your heartfelt words meant a

great deal to me during these challenging times The unequivocical advice from my

oncologist has led me to believe that I can safely consider serving you as chair as speaker rather I have the experience

of five years as assistant vice speaker have taught me indeed what it takes to

ensure an environment of respectful debate of ideas and adherence to our

standing orders as agreed upon over the course of legislatores I'm not here in opposition

to anyone I'm here because I have some convictions that I believe will provide

another way of approaching the responsibilities we all have as parliamentarians I have never been a

parliamentary secretary nor a minister nor held any government role I have been

a privileged backbencher but a backbencher nonetheless

We are 343 out of 40 million Canadians that were chosen to legislate their

present and more than ever their future Responsibilities include and depend on the constant quest for fruitfulness in

the common good I also believe that one of our responsibilities is to find joy in the work we

do Loving what we do this place where we do it and the people that help us do it

are for me fundamental aspects of a successful parliamentary life It can't

and it shouldn't be all about insults and accusations about gotcha moments and questionable statements This is the

place where Canada's most important conversations should be held where we seriously debate and humorously disagree

The ability to find the right word is an art that I admire and that so many of you dear colleagues use with great

brio combined with uh the respect for others and the most basic standards of politeness

Oratory art is exactly what our debate should always be like Holding the government to account is the essential

element of parliamentary democracy No government is immune from the necessary scrutiny of its proposed legislation and

its management of the public accounts But Canadians have told us time and time again that they expect us to do this

with far more civility than they see in this place most days Should I be given

the honor of being elected to the chair I would strive with all my might to bring dignity to our debates I believe

in the rules and reg regulations that govern the House of Commons I believe in the office of the speaker that oversees

the functioning and administration of this place I trust the clerk and the table officers who guide us and provide

us with their knowledge and their independent analysis Dignity is a principle very close to my

heart No one in this house parliamentarian or not should have their humanity violated The most elementary

thanks to the pages who bring us a glass of water or a lectern respectful awareness of the monumental work done by

the interpreters recognition of the delicacy of the task that falls upon the

offices of the table and acceptance that despite our differences we are all here with a single goal to make some good

laws Our predecessors fought hard for our rights as parliamentarians It is our duty to uphold them with conviction and

honor Finally dear colleagues I offer you the

argument of the century or the 21st century Is it not time for a woman to be elected speaker of the Canadian House of

Commons thank you Mr

Speaker I will now call upen Mr Robert

Orifant to the honorable member from Down Valley

West Miss thank you Dean for

having presided over us with your classic sense of humor I think that you

have a great career ahead of you I would like to commend first of all everyone for their

reelection or their election I was first elected and walked into the chamber then

in center block It was in 2008 I'm a minister of the United Church of Canada

So neo gothic buildings and stained glass and ceremony were hardly new But I

was still overwhelmed to be in the Parliament of Canada with honorable colleagues from all parties doing our

best to live up to the lofty expectations of those who sent us here I

still feel that sense of awe But after 17 years it has dimmed and become more

difficult and sometimes even painful to be in here Dignity has diminished and

decorum has declined respect for one another and for this institution are

wolffully lacking Canadians have noticed This was confirmed to me at the many doors I knocked on recently and I

suspect that everyone in this room has had that experience the same way Canadians are

watching Sashan That being said knowing that the task before us is

colossal with great humility and some concern I've decided to be a

candidate to become your speaker Was the Honorable Peter Milikin I did not know

he would be in the the gallery today who for me embodied what it

who for me embodied what it means to be a parliamentarian I was in opposition

and in a moment of uh passion I once went a little too far with a comment

Speaker Milikin rose He dropped his head He raised his

eyebrow and he asked me to withdraw the comment I'm a politician I love debate I

love spice in this house But I felt at that moment I had disappointed the

speaker I had disappointed him and I withdrew the remark I did not want to

let down my colleagues or this house or the people who had sent me here to represent them The raising of an eyebrow

I say this because the speaker's authority the ability to provide leadership to maintain order to protect

members rights and privileges to have credibility inside and outside this

house comes from members having trust and respect in not only the office of

the speaker but in the speaker herself or himself

We need to go beyond an appearance of impartiality We have to be impartial We have to listen both to both

sides of the house We have to have taken part in a number of

roles irrespective of our party or our position Finally this authority is not

simply given to us because we understand parliamentary privilege but because we protect we

protect it every single day of course rooted in competence credentials and character But it's more than that It

comes from being calm in the midst of chaos dispassionate in the heat of debate It comes from humility

accountability empathy It comes from having a sense of humor that cuts through pretense and posturing and calms

the moment

It's not given us just because we respect both official languages but because we live in both languages every

day My partner over the last few years or my partner is a proud Quebecer

who grew up in Ramuski Not only is he my French professor but he also helps me to

better understand the franophhone reality in

Canada which is an asset to us all And I hope to preside over parliament dignity and I will say zero tolerance for

behavior that diminishes any one of us with consistently applied consequences

for unparliamentary behavior no matter where it comes from As a former accountant I hope to excel as a chief

administrator of this place And as former parliamentary secretary in foreign affairs I hope to represent

parliament faithfully and carefully around the world and in Canada I believe I can do all three of these key roles In

my other my role as an other kind of minister I led congregations across Canada leading people in good times and

bad breaking down people's barriers that divided people and attempting to lead

them in common purpose People have often asked "What's the difference between being an MP and clergy i pray more."

Now but I don't want to pray I want to do something about it I would like to be

your speaker I'd like to be the custodian of the chair that belongs to you

Thank you very much for your support

Given that you uh referred to my career when I was elected in

1984 there were no cell phones There was no internet and there was no facts It

was paradise It was great I uh will now call upon Mrs Sher

Romano the honorable member for Long Shaun to address the house for not more

than five minutes

Mr Speaker it's with humility and a lot of respect that I stand today as

candidate to the speakerhip of the House of Commons To members who are back

welcome back It's great to see so many familiar faces To new MPs welcome

Every single one of us have won the trust and gained the trust of

our constituents so that we can respect their views Irrespective of our region

our party or point of view we are united in our duty of serving democracy with

integrity We must also defend its institutions It's no easy feat to be speaker of this

house where these diverse voices assemble sometimes as a cacophony but always with

passion The speaker has a solemn responsibility that is to preserve the dignity of

parliament to guarantee the equity of debate and what might be the most

difficult make sure that 343 very intelligent people with very

different opinions respect more or less the calendar of parliament The speaker is not partisan

It is fundamentally based on principles with equity and a staunch defense of

everyone's privilege If I get the trust

of this uh house I will treat everyone with respect and impartiality knowing

that democracy does not develop when we all agree but when we

all hear and listen to one another parliamentary experience as parliamentary secretary deputy leader of

the government chair of the standing committee on industry science and technology and probably the only member

who actually asked to sit on the procedure and house affairs committee As a fellow elected

representative I understand the demands of public service and the pressures we all face but I also believe that

impassion debate and decorum are not mutually exclusive The speaker fulfills several key comp uh

responsibilities Presiding over debates and ensuring the enforcement of rules and the preservation of order and decorum acting as chief administrative

officer of the house and representing the house in its external relations Of these the one I've heard the most about

in my conversations over the past weeks is the preservation of decorum On this let me be very clear I

will be fair firm and consistent The standing orders in the House of Commons

procedure and practice offer a solid framework to guide our work And with nearly a third of members joining the

House for the first time it is especially important that the speaker provide guidance clarity and

support Expectations must be clearly communicated and when rules are not followed corrective action must be taken

In this regard I've demonstrated my ability to lead impartially and keep order as the chair of the Indu committee

My two sons will attest to my near obsession with rules and order In fact

they both voluntarily enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces at age 16 believing that even the military was

bound to have fewer rules than at home But above and beyond rules the tone

and culture of this place matter In these times of of uncertainty when trust

in institutions is being tested we must renew our commitment to civility transparency and respectful dialogue

Canadians are watching us especially young Canadians Our children and grandchildren are paying attention to

how we speak to one another how we handle disagreement and how we uphold the principles of democracy Let us give

them something to be proud of JuMA on

I believe in a modern accessible parliament as well One that adopts new technologies reflects Canadians

realities and includes both tradition and innovation Parliament needs to change to adapt to the present moment

while also maintaining its foundations that have been serving us for generations I do not see the role of

speaker as a one-way street It must be one that encourages a constant flow of ideas viewpoints and suggestions on how

we can make this institution stronger and how we can make it work better for all members and ultimately for the

people we are all here to serve This is after all their house My vision is

parliament I have a vision of a parliament that reflects the best values that we have as Canadians the best of

what we are as Canadians and what we defend as parliamentarians

If I have the honor of being elected as speaker I will fully commit to this

mission with equity consistency and fairness Thank you very

much I will now call up Mr Francis Scaparia the honorable member of Rexwood

Thank you very much Mr Speaker I would also like to mention that today we are gathered on the unseated territory of

the Alangquin and Ishinabi people A little over 20 years ago I was

seated in this house for the first time in the farthest back row 20 years

ago It was a proud moment which is why I would like to offer a special congratulations to all newly elected

members who are taking their seats for the first time today Whether we are in the first rows

or the last row like the old Montreal Forum there are no bad seats in this

arena

We are all equal here We have all done the same thing Have all traveled the same road and faced challenges and come

up against obstacles on the way to earning the honor and privilege of being the voices of our constituents in this

parliament Canada's greatest asset is its democracy And democracy lives and breathes here in

this chamber Democracy doesn't just stop on the day

of the vote Democracy is constantly evolving and it lives in this chamber And

ultimately it is the quality of our democracy that represents the strength of our country the strength of our nations

communities provinces and regions that together form our Canadian society It is rightly said that there can be no true

freedom without order Likewise we can't be we can't be a

we can't have a truly meaningful exchange of ideas without an orderly rules-based House of

Commons Now there's nothing wrong with a clean even board rattling pmical 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 a resilient nation The problem is when sticks go

high Canadians want to see sticks Canadians want to see though the

elbows are for others not for us Canadians

Canadians Canadians want to see sticks on the ice and it's the responsibility

of the speaker to make this so Colleagues I'm an optimist I believe

it possible to skillfully and convincingly dissect and refute an argument without recourse to personal

invective or intimidation I have seen all colleagues from all parties achieve this

standard Over 20 years of parliamentary experience has prepared me 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 Jifel colleague a colleagues I've

had a great deal of experience in different roles over the last 20 years I've been on both sides of the house 10

years in opposition including at a time when the future of my party seemed uncertain and 10 years in total on the

governance side I know both sides of the coin and I'm very aware of the needs of

colleagues on both sides of the house We need to remember that the speaker is also an

administrator leading operations and services on the hill After my 20 years of experience I

have a deep knowledge of all aspects of the administrative apparatus of the Hill and of its regulations Colleagues we

have a duty a duty to Canadians and to ourselves a duty to cultivate our

parliamentary democracy in an increasingly turbulent world where many argue that democracy is just too

inefficient and timeconsuming Canada has always been about values It

was the will to affirm a distinct set of values on the upper half of the North American continent that led to the

creation against all odds of this confederation of founding peoples and nations and diverse and proud

regions Our neighbor 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 Thank you

both Before I suspend the sitting for 30

minutes per deal I would just like to say to the entire

team of volunteers that enabled me to be elected for the 13th time I'd like to

thank them for this prestigious chair And I'd like to also thank

my entire family and this speaker's

throne that I love very much Well I'll have to lend it to the king tomorrow

What a thing to think about But he will of course be welcome It will be on the Senate throne In

fact now I will just say that the bells

will ring for only five minutes Now the sitting is

suspended to the call of the chair