Holder says right things

PARLIAMENT: The London West MP is ‘days away from deciding” whether to pursue the speaker’s role

By CHIP MARTIN, The London Free Press

 

Considered a leading contender for the post of speaker in Canada's next Parliament, London West Conservative MP Ed Holder says he's mulling it over.

"I'm days away from deciding" whether to pursue the job, Holder said Thursday.

Ironically, there's no active campaigning for the job, which MPs will vote on as the first piece of business when they go back to work June 2.

"If you want to run for Speaker, you do nothing other than express your intention," said Holder, just returned for a second term.

By tradition, every MP is considered a potential Speaker unless he or she declines.

Holder and his major rival, Saskatchewan Tory MP Andrew Scheer, deputy to just-retired speaker Peter Milliken, are the only two of the seven candidates being touted for the job who are fully bilingual.

"I've worked very hard at it," Holder said of learning French since his election in 2008. He also speaks German and "passable" Spanish, he said.

The Speaker's job comes with a significant raise and notable perks.

Holder would receive a pay hike taking him from $156,000 to about $230,000, plus acquire a driver, putting him on par with cabinet ministers.

The Speaker has an apartment on Parliament Hill for receptions and accommodation.

The Speaker also gets use of "The Farm," a country property in Gatineau, Que., given to Canada by former prime minister Mackenzie King. Originally a summer home, it's been winterized and Milliken lived there much of the time.

Holder said he's carefully considering the post since he's received encouragement from several quarters, including from within London West.

He said he was flattered others thought he was fit for the prestigious post.

"What's the impact?," Holder said remains his main concern.

He said he'd like to reduce the level of partisanship and acrimony in the House of Commons, but is concerned about London West and whether he would still be able to advocate as strongly for constituents.

"People here didn't elect a Speaker," he said.

"They elected an MP."

He would keep his London riding office and his MP's office on Parliament Hill to continue his normal duties.

Milliken, a former Liberal MP, was the longest-serving speaker in history and presided over an unruly chamber. Things are expected to be cooler now that the Conservatives, with 166 seats, have a comfortable majority.

Among Milliken's rulings in the last house were that the government had breached Parliamentary privilege, decisions that led to a motion of contempt of Parliament and of non-confidence, which led to the election.

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Other MPs rumoured in the running

·         Lee Richardson, C — Calgary Centre

·         Bruce Stanton, C — Simcoe North

·         Merv Tweed, C — Brandon Souris

·         Barry Devolin, C — Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock;

·         Dean Allison, C — Niagara West-Glanbrook

E-mail chip.martin@sunmedia.ca, or follow ChipatLFPress on Twitter.