Battle lines drawn in Parliament
• Federal political leaders drew early battle lines Thursday when the 42nd Parliament met for the first time — with the main parties in new seats and new Speakers for both the House of Commons and the Senate.
In the Commons, MPs elected veteran Liberal Geoff Regan the new Speaker. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Sen. George Furey the new Speaker of the Senate.
The Liberal government’s throne speech, identifying its priorities, will be delivered Friday in the Senate by Gov. Gen. David Johnston, with the first session of question period being held Monday.
“We must work together to re-establish faith and confidence in the House of Commons,” Trudeau said in congratulatory remarks to Regan, his first time speaking in the Commons as prime minister.
It remains to be seen whether that can happen. Trudeau has promised more independence of parliamentary committees, reforming question period, and more free votes for MPs.
“It’s important that we have constructive debates in this place on issues that Canadians have told us matter to them.
“We will work hard to promote more openness across government,” Trudeau said.
Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose said Tory MPs will work to make the 42nd Parliament a “great Parliament.” The Conservative party will co-operate with the Speaker “at all times and in all situations,” she said.
Trudeau and the Liberal government also can count on the co-operation and support of the official Opposition “when it’s in the best interests of Canadians,” Ambrose said.
“If the prime minister is wondering what I’m prepared to do when he does not act in the best interests of Canadians, to him I say: Just watch me,” Ambrose said, a cheeky reference to a famous quote from the prime minister’s late father, Pierre.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair promised his party would co-operate with the Speaker, but vowed to be a thorn in the government’s side.
“The government has made ambitious promises during the election campaign,” Mulcair said.
“Our responsibility, of course, is to ensure that from now on, they translate those words into action. We are a progressive opposition that will help the new government to respect and implement change that Canadians want.”
The difficulty the new House of Commons Speaker faces in improving debate and decorum was laid bare just minutes after he was elected to the post.
Geoff Regan, MP for Halifax West, is a member of Parliament who initially was elected in 1993, and served as Fisheries and Oceans minister under former prime minister Paul Martin. Regan replaces Saskatchewan Conservative MP Andrew Scheer as Speaker.
THESE LIBERALS HAVE ALLOWED AMPLE ROOM FOR A PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN THE CENTRE OF THE SPECTRUM. — COLUMNIST MICHAEL DEN TANDT