The House of Commons is set to hold a mid-session election on Tuesday to vote for a new Speaker. This is a rare occurrence, as it is only the third time in Canadian history that a Speaker has not completed their full term. Anthony Rota recently resigned from the position following controversy. During a visit by Ukraine’s president, Rota invited parliamentarians to applaud a veteran who served in a Nazi unit during World War II.
In a first for Canada, the longest-serving MP in the House, a Bloc Québécois representative, has been appointed as an interim Speaker. This move demonstrates the House’s commitment to overcoming partisanship. All MPs, except for party leaders and ministers, have the opportunity to put themselves forward as candidates for the Speaker role. They have until today to remove their names from the list before the vote takes place on Tuesday. Several Conservative, Liberal, and NDP MPs, as well as Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, have expressed interest in the position, which offers a pay raise and an official residence.