Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons

In Canada the Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the lower house and is elected by fellow MPs. The Speaker's role in Canada is similar to that of Speakers elsewhere in other countries that use the Westminster system (see Speaker of the House of Commons). The current Speaker is Ontario Liberal MP Peter Milliken.

Related Topics:
Canada - Speaker - House of Commons - Lower house - Westminster system - Speaker of the House of Commons - Ontario - Liberal - Peter Milliken

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Traditionally in Canada the Speaker was appointed by the Prime Minister, but in 1986 this was changed and they are now selected by secret ballot. The Speaker remains a sitting MP, but only votes on matters in the case of a tie. In Canada it is the Speaker's responsibility to manage the House of Commons and supervise its staff. It is also the Speaker's duty to act as a liaison with the Senate and the Crown. The Speaker of the House of Commons receives a salary of about $209,000 (Cdn) and has use of the official residence, the Kingsmere estate outside Gatineau, Quebec, just across the river from Ottawa.

Related Topics:
Prime Minister - 1986 - Secret ballot - Senate - Crown - Cdn - Kingsmere - Gatineau, Quebec - Ottawa

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The Speaker's counterpart in the upper house is the Speaker of the Canadian Senate.

Related Topics:
Upper house - Speaker of the Canadian Senate

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Canadian provincial and territorial legislatures also have Speakers with much the same roles.

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On Thursday, May 19, 2005, the Speaker was required to cast the tie-breaking vote during a confidence measure for the first time in Canadian history. Faced with the defeat of Paul Martin's minority government, Milliken voted in favour of the NDP budget amendment. Despite popular belief that the speaker, as a Liberal MP, would automatically support the government, his vote was already pre-determined. As speaker, Milliken's vote must be cast to allow the continuation of debate, or to maintain the status-quo. Thus, the Speaker voted in favour of second reading, "to allow the House time for further debate so that it can make its own decision at some future time." The bill would later pass third reading without the need for Milliken's vote.

Related Topics:
2005 - Paul Martin - Minority government - NDP budget amendment

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