Duties
The Speaker of the House of Commons has important responsibilities of a procedural, administrative, and ceremonial nature. He or she is elected by secret ballot by the whole House in a process overseen by the Dean of the House (the Member with the longest consecutive service who is not a Minister or Officer of the House). The Speaker must carry out his responsibilities in a non-partisan manner and with strict impartiality and can not vote on any motions unless there is a tie vote.
As the chief presiding officer, he or she must maintain order in the Chamber and is responsible for procedural activities. The Speaker is also the Chairman of the Board of Internal Economy which is responsible for the administration of the 1500 House of Commons employees and its annual budget which exceeds $200 million. Moreover, the Speaker is the representative of the House of Commons in its relations with the Crown, the Senate, and authorities outside Parliament. In this capacity, he welcomes many visiting dignitaries and delegations and represents the House at national events and during visits abroad. In addition, the Speaker continues to carry out his or her responsibilities as a Member of Parliament for the their own riding constituents.
The Honourable Andrew Scheer
Mr. Scheer was elected Speaker of the House of Commons for the 41st Parliament on June 2, 2011. He is the fourth Speaker to be chosen by a secret ballot cast by his fellow Members of the House of Commons. Born in 1979, he is also the youngest Speaker of the House in Canadian history.
Mr. Scheer was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. He studied history and politics at the University of Ottawa and the University of Regina, where he received a Bachelor of Arts. Interested in politics at a young age, Mr. Scheer worked for the Leader of the Opposition while he was still a student in Ottawa. Shortly after graduation, Mr. Scheer joined the constituency office of Canadian Alliance MP Larry Spencer, in Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre. Mr. Scheer lives in Regina with his wife Jill and their four children – Thomas, Grace, Madeline, and Henry.
Mr.Scheer was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Regina—Qu'Appelle. He was re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. During the 39th Parliament he served as the Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole. During the 40th Parliament he served as the Deputy Speaker.
SOURCES: The Speaker of the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament.
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