海角社区官网

鈥淲e have a duty, a duty to Canadians and to ourselves, a duty to cultivate our parliamentary democracy in an increasingly turbulent world,鈥� Scarpaleggia told MPs before the Speaker鈥檚 vote Monday morning.

As the U.S. president threatens annexation and pursues a trade war against Canada, Scarpaleggia appealed to stirrings of Canadian nationalism. He spoke of the country鈥檚 distinct values in the 鈥渦pper half鈥� of North America, and likened Canada to the flourishing ancient democracy of Athens, a city-state whose philosophy and culture influenced much of the Mediterranean world more than two millennia ago.

鈥淥ur neighbour to the south may be modern-day Rome. We are Athens聽鈥� in culture, values and democracy,鈥� Scarpaleggia said.

鈥淭his is how we must see ourselves. That is who we must be.鈥�

In congratulating Scarpaleggia, Prime Minister Mark Carney picked up the theme in his first-ever speech from the floor of the House of Commons. Predicting a 鈥済olden age,鈥� Carney聽鈥� who campaigned for the April 28 federal election by claiming Canada will win the trade war against Trump鈥檚 U.S.聽鈥� declared: 鈥淵es, we are Athens. They are Rome.鈥�

In French, he added, 鈥渨e will triumph.鈥�

Scarpaleggia takes over as House Speaker from Greg Fergus, a Quebec Liberal MP who was one of five other Grits who ran unsuccessful against Scarpaleggia for the job. Before the vote, two Conservatives withdrew their names from contention. They included Chris d’Entremont, a Tory re-elected in rural Nova Scotia who was deputy speaker in the last Parliament, and Perth鈥擶ellington MP John Nater.聽

Their withdrawal ensured that, in the minority Parliament, one of the governing Liberals’ 169 MPs would oversee proceedings.聽

It was first time the House was in session since last December, with scores of fresh faces in every row of the chamber. Right up front on the government side sat Carney, elected for the first time in the Ottawa riding of Nepean, who listened and smiled and sometimes looked at his phone as candidates for Speaker delivered speeches about why they deserved to serve as the Commons’ referee and procedural leader.聽

Several of the candidates urged the 343 MPs in the 45^th Parliament to show themselves to be worthy of their seats in Canada鈥檚 chamber of democracy.

Sean Casey, the long-serving MP from Charlottetown, P.E.I., made an impassioned case that Parliament has been tainted by a lack of decorum. He alluded, without specifying, to episodes in the last Parliament, when Conservative MPs were kicked out of the House. In 2022, Manitoba’s Raquel Dancho was ejected after refusing to withdraw an accusation that another MP was lying, something which is routinely ruled unparliamentary. Last year, in April, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was ejected after a tense exchange in which he referred to then-prime minister Justin Trudeau as “wacko.”聽

Promising to impose a “consistent application of progressive discipline,” Casey argued there should have been more expulsions in the last Parliament, prompting laughter and chatter from Conservative benches.

It was also an indirect critique of fellow Liberal Fergus, the speaker elected in 2023 after his predecessor resigned over an episode when a man who fought with a Nazi unit in the Second World War was applauded in Parliament during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.聽聽

“I can鈥檛 imagine that anyone held up the current state of civility in Parliament with pride,” Casey said, referring to campaigning in the recent federal election.

“A new session, with so many new faces, offers a fresh start and a real chance to lead by example.鈥澛�

Fergus, who tried to regain the job, acknowledged in his speech that there were rough patches in Parliament on his watch. That included calls from the opposition Conservatives and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois for him to resign, in part over allegations over partisan activity in his capacity as Speaker.聽

鈥淚n that Parliament tempers ran high and co-operation was low,” Fergus said, comparing himself to a car that has been bumped around can still run.聽

“You learn the role through experience,” he said.聽

海角社区官网MP Rob Oliphant, meanwhile, said respect for Parliament in recent times has been “woefully lacking.” The 68-year-old veteran MP argued decorum is best achieved when MPs feel they can trust the Speaker’s impartiality, and referred to how as a new MP all it took was an arched eyebrow from then-Speaker Peter Milliken for Oliphant to withdraw a comment that was deemed unparliamentary.聽

Referring to his role as a United Church minister, Oliphant joked about how “people have often asked, ‘What’s the difference between being an MP and clergy?’ I pray more now.”聽

Others who ran included Quebec Liberal MPs Sherry Romanado and former assistant deputy speaker Alexandra Mend猫s, who spoke of the importance of Parliament and the need for civility.

After Scarpaleggia鈥檚 election, Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer聽鈥� standing for Poilievre after the Tory leader failed to win a seat on April 28聽鈥斅爏aid he trusts the new Speaker will stand up for Parliament against 鈥渙ffices of authority.鈥� In the last Parliament, Conservatives delayed proceedings for months as the Liberal government refused to release all documents related to the controversy at a Crown agency for green technology.

Scheer also alluded to recent parliamentary behaviour, including 鈥淔 bombs鈥� and 鈥渇lying elbows,鈥� the latter a reference to when former prime minister Justin Trudeau walked across the aisle and bumped into a female New Democrat MP while trying to bring a Liberal back to the seats for a vote.

But he said 鈥渄ebates should be passionate鈥� in Parliament, urging Scarpaleggia to allow opposition MPs to hold the government accountable.

鈥淭he lives of Canadians are changed by the decisions we make, so it is normal that members get enthusiastic and fiery,鈥� said Scheer, who served as Speaker himself from 2011 to 2015.

鈥淥ften the best thing you can do is allow the players to play a little bit.鈥�

Scheer said he trusts Scarpaleggia will stand with previous speakers who stand with Parliament to represent the people, calling him the “servant of the House” who will oversee passionate debates.

“It is normal that members get enthusiastic and fiery,” Scheer said, a former Speaker himself who argued Scarpaleggia should allow for some passion in the chamber.聽

Rising next, Bloc Qu茅b茅cois Leader Yves-Fran莽ois Blanchet expressed hope for a “convivial” session of Parliament, and asked MPs to reflect on the “importance” and “privilege” of democracy.聽

He said he believes there is a chance for a better tone and collaboration in the House, and congratulated Scarpaleggia for overseeing those efforts as Speaker.聽

In his own speech congratulating Scarpaleggia, NDP Interim Leader Don Davies said public trust in institutions is being “tested around the world” and said the Speaker’s job has never been more important.

“In keeping with the Athenian imagery, I would say this House should have more Plato and less mediocrities,” he said, prompting laughter.聽

“Let us honour the trust Canadians have placed in us by rising to this moment.”