After a Monday morning vote, Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia has been elected the new Speaker of the House of Commons.The selection was made through a secret ballot, where members ranked nominees in order of their favourability. Two Conservative MPs withdrew from the race Monday morning, and Green Party leader Elizabeth May withdrew her candidacy on Sunday — leaving only Liberal MPs in contention.The Speaker of the House is meant to be a neutral arbiter of House proceedings, tasked with facilitating parliamentary business, maintaining order, and ensuring that debate follows the rules of procedure.Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, Quebec, will now preside over House proceedings as Parliament reconvenes after several months of recess. MPs have not sat since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament on January 6..Scarpaleggia, a veteran MP first elected in 2004, is known for his commitment to parliamentary procedure and cross-party cooperation. His experience includes serving as Chair of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and as Parliamentary Secretary to various ministers.As Speaker, Scarpaleggia will be responsible for managing debates, enforcing rules, and representing the House of Commons in its relations with the Crown and other institutions. He is expected to act impartially, stepping away from partisan politics to uphold the dignity and traditions of the office.Prime Minister Mark Carney, addressing his caucus, indicated the coming weeks and months will be “very, very” busy, with affordability set as his government’s primary focus.
