Believe it or not, there were no points of order from Question Period today.
The big news is the speaker’s appearance at a partisan Liberal event in robes and in speaker’s office.
This is a HUGE no no as it puts the impartiality of the speaker into question.
Today, former speaker and opposition house leader, Andrew Scheer raised the situation as a point of privilege. The Conservatives and the BQ have asked for Speaker Fergus to resign. Obviously, there will be no decision today on the issue.
On Dec.3rd, a spokesperson claimed that the speaker was asked to provide a personal message for outgoing interim Liberal leader John Frasier, but acknowledged how the address “could have been perceived” and that he “recognizes the need to protect the impartial and non-partisan role of the Speaker”.
On Monday however, Speaker Fergus did apologize in the HoC for the mishap, in part saying “I would like to reassure members that the principles of respect, impartiality and decorum are values I continue to prioritize for my Speaker’s tenure,”.
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