Roundup: More BC Speaker cautions

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The question of the Speaker of the BC Legislature remains up in the air, and continued word is that the Liberals are keeping their own out of the race lest they lose another seat as they test the confidence of the legislature, and with the Greens ruling out one of their own as well, that leaves the NDP left holding the bag when it comes to electing a Speaker. They’re obviously reluctant to do so, but it also reduces their chances of toppling the government and installing one of their own. And with that reality in mind, there is dark talk about the NDP turning the Speaker into a partisan if that happens.

This kind of comment is a real problem, because in a Westminster system, the conventions are the rules. And when people don’t see an issue with the Speaker breaking the convention that they only vote to break a tie, and in a manner that either keeps debate going or to preserve the status quo, demanding that an NDP Speaker topple the Clark government is a very big problem.

https://twitter.com/emmmacfarlane/status/871544756773548033

https://twitter.com/pmlagasse/status/871550005412343808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.routineproceedings.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php

And if an NDP Speaker is elected but doesn’t opt to topple the government (and they very well should not for the sake of our system), it could leave Clark with little ability to govern, especially when it comes to passing supply, but that could be exactly what Clark is waiting for – an ability to go back to the electorate with great public regret. That said, she is under no obligation to simply accept defeat and turn over power to the NDP, especially with a precarious situation (signed confidence agreement or not).

I will add that the BC Liberals are under no obligation to put forward a name for Speaker. Federally, the Conservatives served two minority terms under Peter Milliken, a Liberal Speaker, with no ill-effect. So no, nothing is over or settled on this yet.

Good reads:

  • The PM will be doing a Live with Kelly and Ryan appearance at Niagara Falls this morning (along with Tatiana Maslanay!)
  • A Canadian woman was identified as one of the victims from the attack on London Bridge on Saturday night.
  • Finalists for the position and franchophone minority communities are worried that the Meilleur nomination has damaged the Language Commissioner position.
  • The Commons immigration committee is wrapping up a study on immigration consultants, but their very existence does point to problems with the system itself.
  • While the RCMP has come to a court settlement with its harassment class action, individual actions by several women remain in limbo.
  • The military is starting to comb its archives to look for those dismissed for being gay or lesbian between 1969 and 1992, in preparation for the government apology.
  • The Parks Canada managers responsible for the Rideau Canal were disciplined after breaking numerous spending rules.
  • Here’s a look at Andrew Scheer’s winning campaign team.
  • Pat Stogran has pulled out of the NDP leadership citing party insiders. But we all knew this was coming once he declared his intentions, frankly.
  • Another would-be candidate disallowed by the party for past charges of criminal harassment of women is taking the party to court.

Odds and ends:

Caroline Mulroney might be going into politics after all, but provincially in Ontario.

Andrew Scheer acquitted himself at his first Press Gallery Dinner appearance as Conservative leader.