SAVOIE NAMED ASSISTANT DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
VICTORIA - Denise Savoie, Member of Parliament for Victoria, has been chosen by unanimous motion of Members of Parliament to take the Speaker's chair in the House of Commons, serving as Assistant Deputy Speaker.
“I am honored that my colleagues from all parties in the House of Commons have shown such confidence in me. I look forward to this challenge and opportunity to help make Parliament a more respectful and productive place to conduct the country’s business,” said Savoie.
In this important role steeped in the deep traditions of Parliamentary Democracy, Savoie will be part of Speaker Peter Milliken's team that shepherds the work of the House.
"Denise brings wisdom and a rich experience in public service to this important post," said New Democrat leader Jack Layton. "She is the first woman NDP caucus member to take the Speaker's chair and this reflects the esteem in which she is held by MPs. We are proud and honoured that a New Democrat has been chosen by the House for such an important role."
Bill Blaikie, who was Deputy Speaker in the last Parliament, is the only other New Democrat who has served in this position.
"I believe that Denise will help bring a better atmosphere of respect and dignity to the House debates," added Layton.
Savoie will be the only francophone member of the four-person Speaker's team. The other member of Milliken’s team are Andrew Scheer, Member of Parliament for Regina Qu’Appelle, and Barry Devolin, Member of Parliament for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.
Unlike the Speaker, who is not able to participate in debate, as Assistant Deputy Speaker, Savoie will be free to participate as a full member of the NDP caucus, to speak for her constituents in the House and to continue her advocacy for the citizens of Victoria in the House. She will continue to advise the caucus on key issues of homelessness and housing, transit, and other matters, although she will not be an official "critic" in these areas.
The duties of the Assistant Deputy Speaker include taking the chair when the House sits as a committee of the whole, which Savoie will do for the first time this afternoon at 5:00 pm EST.