Now that we have a new Tory majority, who should be the next Speaker of the House? This is a difficult decision, do you go with a high profile MP that could otherwise be in cabinet, or should it be a lesser known MP? Having previously endorsed Michael Chong for the job, I still think it would be entertaining to see John Baird in the Speaker's chair. But he is likely to get a top cabinet spot, so there are more valuable posts that he can serve. Perhaps we can go with a female speaker? I doubt the Prime Minister would appoint Bev Oda, but the irony would be delicious.
Who should be appointed? Maxime Bernier would be interesting.
Andrew Scheer
ReplyDeleteI second Andrew Scheer, though how great would it be if Candace Hoeppner were able to hold the post of Speaker? I have no idea if she's bi-lingual, but man, the first time Pat Martin gets out of line during question period the smackdown from her would be legendary. :)
ReplyDeleteShould I have had a nomination process before launching the poll? I don't even know who Andrew Scheer is, but I'm sure I'll find out.
ReplyDeleteExpect Candace in cabinet. Michael Chong is perfect for Speaker. He can take French lessons or have an interpreter. Given our multi cultural mosaic, we should not eliminate people from jobs because they don't speak both languages fluently.
James Moore is more valuable in a high profile cabinet position than as Speaker. He is a rising star.
ReplyDeleteYeah James Moore is a rising star alright, at the CBC!
ReplyDeleteI think you should correct your post. The PM does not appoint the Speaker; he or she is selected by a vote of all MPs by secret ballot. The PM can nominate someone, say Michael Chong, to run for Speaker, but it doesn't stop someone else to run against him.
ReplyDeleteMichael Chong is definitely my first pick, though Barry Devolin (also from Ontario) comes to a close second because he's been a deputy speaker before, as has Royal Galipeau from Ottawa.
The Speaker is an apolitical appointment. Anybody you like as a Conservative, basically, shouldn't be in the Chair -- they should save their views for a political appointment, i.e. in the Cabinet.
ReplyDeleteThe alternative is either to see someone you like reduced to a dry procedural role for the next four years, or to turn the Speaker's chair into an extension of the Government front bench, which would be against Parliamentary convention.
Top Can -- I don't know how Speaker's elections work (other than that they're secret), but I would imagine that if Harper felt particularly strongly about an appointment, he could lean on the caucus to get them into place. I'm not sure he does, though. In a majority Parliament the Speaker's office is not going to be nearly as interesting a place as it was in a minority government.
James Moore and Candace Hoeppner are great and they need to get more and more leadership experience running big departments, as we could see them as PM candidates! The speaker job would waste their growth, as future leaders are best developed by being given difficult tasks managing complex issues to competent people.
ReplyDeleteIt was very joyful to see Bev Oda re-elected with a solid majority! She was so maligned by the Liberals/BLOC/NDP for nothing really. Ditto for Leona Aglukkaq and Lisa Raitt. Voters saw through the Liberal-led fake scandals directed against talented, but quiet, conservative Ministers. As a female voter, I thought these women were really treated badly for nothing of substance, but they all got through it.
Andrew Scheer is an understudy and may be a good choice. Michael Chong might not be selected by parliamentarians without French credentials. The person selected has to have a deep love for reading the fine print in rules and skill in personal dealings. It is their (MPs) call, not the electors anyway. There may be Liberals who could be good too.
Pierre-Luc Dusseault would be fabulous in that chair. Imagine the entertainment value.
ReplyDeleteMaxime Bernier is a very interesting MP. I think his role should be Quebec leader, as his messages and communication skills are outstanding, even in his second language. His role should be to continue to teach Quebecers that they can safely vote for the CPC and do not have to live on the dole from Alberta. The paper/girlfriend scandal was nothing really, but he should have a small department, as he still needs to learn a lot.
ReplyDeleteI nominate Ruth Ellen Brousseau...How much fun would that be and wuold highlight just how the NDP played a game with this election and won...er lost!
ReplyDeleteI agree that John Baird should be in cabinet,but wouldn't it be great to see someone tell the opposition to shut up,sit down or leave the chamber and mean it when they get out of control and start their howling.I,m afraid they would take advantage of Bev Oda,she is too quiet.
ReplyDeleteWith less than a handful of BQ seats in the house, who gives *hit if Michael Chong doesn't speak french ? He ought to be able to kick them out the first time they don't stand for the singing of Oh Canada.
ReplyDeleteIf Jack can have a lot of mps who only speak one language, why can't the speaker only have one language. Bilingualism must go the way of the dodo bird. The fact that 4 mps will not sign O Canada will not make the same impression as 40 not singing. Or, perhaps Quebec will insist that the new Bloc/ndp members don't show up either.
ReplyDeleteFirst, an MP has to express an interest in the position and allow his nname to stand. Then there is an election, voted on by all members.
sing, not sign.
ReplyDeleteThomas Mulcair of the NDP should be nominated for Speaker.
ReplyDeleteHe's one of the few bilingual NDP'ers,and his loss to the Party would be devastating.
I like the idea of a conspiracy theory nutter forced to shut up and obey/enforce Parliamentary procedure.
Bev Oda....
ReplyDeleteI have a few I'm mulling over:
ReplyDeleteDavid Tilson
Royal Galipeau
Lee Richardson
Dean Del Maestro
Tom Lukiski
Chuck Strahl
ReplyDeleteAnon:
ReplyDeleteI hope your "Chuck Strahl" suggestion was a joke. Unfortunately, I don't think it was. *sigh*
Peter Kent. The guy is bit too liberal for me so I would prefer to seem him out of cabinet.
ReplyDeletePeter Milliken.
ReplyDeleteWe don,t need any more screwing around like Millikin did.Lets just get a Conservative into the speakers chair and the hell with the opposition back stabbers.Have we learned nothing from the Bev Oda phony ruling by Millikin.He showed his true Liberal color's with that ruling.Yet he never ruled on the files that were stolen by the liberals from a vacated Conservative office.Let us quit trying to be nice to these guys,they would stab us in the back again given the chance.It is power and nothing but power with them and that goes double for the MSM.Watch out for Milewski and Fife and their pal,s.We should know by now they CANNOT be trusted.I just wish once the PM just told Milewski to STFU.
ReplyDeleteWow. @ bertie, Whether or not Terry Milewski was right, you honestly don't see Barrak Obama saying things like that to Fox News, or even Donald Trump. G W Bush woudn't even go that far.
ReplyDeleteI nominate LIZZY shrieker May.
ReplyDeleteThat might shut her up.
No press coverage at all.
Even the stupid CBC wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole.