Canada: Canada’s House of Commons has chosen Liberal MP Mr. Greg Fergus as the new House Speaker. It comes after the resignation of the previous Speaker amidst a controversy related to a Nazi presence in parliament.
Mr. Fergus, the first black man to hold this position, was selected by the 338-member House in a secret ballot. The previous Speaker stepped down after inviting a Ukrainian man with ties to a Nazi unit to parliament.
Mr. Anthony Rota stated that he was unaware of the veteran’s Nazi connections. Seven candidates competed to replace him.
In his initial comments, Mr. Fergus encouraged his fellow members to show respect to one another in the House, emphasizing that it’s a space for “passionate debate. We will show them politics is a noble profession.”
The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Justin Trudeau, stated that his election “should be inspiring for all Canadians, especially younger generations who want to get involved in politics.”
Some Conservative members have opposed his nomination. MP Ms. Michelle Rempel Garner from Calgary argued that he was unfit for the role due to an ethics violation last year. In that instance, he was found to have inappropriately written a letter of support as a lawmaker for a French-speaking broadcaster.
However, despite some disagreement, Conservative Leader Mr. Pierre Poilievre smiled while he and Mr. Trudeau accompanied Mr. Fergus into the House of Commons in Ottawa. This act is part of a centuries-old tradition where the new Speaker playfully acts reluctant to take on the role.
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