Speaker is a key guardian of Canada’s democracy – must have expertise and be fully independent and impartial, not an MP loyal to one party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, May 26, 2025

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch called on federal party leaders to learn the lessons of past controversial rulings by Speakers of the House of Commons by reaching an agreement to have a non-MP chosen as Speaker after an independent committee does a public, merit-based search for a short list of qualified candidates who have expertise in parliamentary rules and procedure.

Like the Officers of Parliament, the Speaker is a key guardian of democracy and must be independent of all parties because s/he makes many key decisions about the actions of MPs and the operations of Parliament and the government.  As a result, the Speaker should not be an MP tainted with partisanship.

Democracy Watch proposes that an independent committee whose members are approved by all federal party leaders in the House of Commons be established to conduct a public, merit-based search for a shortlist of three non-MP, fully qualified nominees for Speaker who know parliamentary law and procedure, and then MPs would rank the nominees in a secret ballot as happens now.  The Speaker would be the person who receives the most votes from this ranked ballot vote, and would be protected from being removed during the full term of the Parliament until the next election (except for cause such as a violation of any law).

Because the Speaker is an MP from one of the parties, it is easy for leaders of other parties to accuse the Speaker of making partisan rulings whenever the ruling goes against the interests of their party.  Also, given party leaders determine whether MPs get to run for re-election, the MP who is Speaker remains under the influence of one party leader.  In addition, MPs who become Speaker often also take months or years before they are an effective referee who can maintain decorum in the House and has the knowledge and expertise to make reasonable, rules- and evidence-based rulings.

“Given how important it is for the Speaker of the House of Commons to be independent and impartial, especially in a minority government situation, federal party leaders should establish a new, independent process for choosing a fully qualified Speaker who is not an MP,” said Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch
Tel: (613) 241-5179
Cell: 416-546-3443
Email: [email protected]

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