Different House Speaker Downfalls in Canada and US, with Divergent Consequences
Neighbours Canada and the United States Experience Different Speaker Turmoil
Canada and the United States have recently faced upheavals over their house of elected representatives’ Speaker positions. However, the consequences for political life in each country are vastly different.
“The Speaker, to use the old hockey analogy, is nothing more than a referee,” said newly elected House of Commons Speaker and Liberal MP Greg Fergus on Oct. 3.
“If there is one thing I know, it is that nobody pays good money to go see the referee. They go to see the stars: you, the players on the ice.”
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While the Canadian House Speaker focuses on routine duties such as presiding over ceremonies and maintaining order, the U.S. House Speaker position is a coveted and powerful role that is currently causing intense infighting among Republicans.
For the first time in history, the House of Representatives voted to oust a speaker. The removal of Kevin McCarthy was spurred by a small conservative faction within the Republican party.
Mr. Gaetz has charged that Mr. McCarthy failed to respect the agreement that propelled him into the position, which he obtained after a 15-round voting marathon in January that involved at least one intra-party physical altercation as tempers flared.
“Kevin McCarthy couldn’t keep his word,” Mr. Gaetz told reporters on Oct. 3. “He made an agreement in January regarding the way Washington would work, and he violated that agreement. We are $33 trillion in debt. We are facing $2.2 trillion annual deficits.”
Mr. McMarthy said after the vote he didn’t regret the actions he undertook while speaker. “I don’t regret standing up for choosing government over grievance. It is my responsibility. It is my job. I do not regret negotiating. Our government is designed to find compromise.”
Republicans plan to hold a speaker’s candidate forum on Oct. 10 and hold an election in the House the following day. They hold a 221–212 majority in the chamber, captured in last year’s mid-term elections.
Political Power
The House Speaker position wields significant power in the United States, setting the political agenda, overseeing committee assignments, and making deals with the opposition.
As a spokesperson for the majority, the U.S. House Speaker is allowed to be political, unlike his counterpart in Canada, though the individual also shares similar responsibilities such as guiding floor debates.
While the Canadian House Speaker rarely makes the news, the U.S. House Speaker is almost the daily center of attention along with the U.S. president, for which he is the second in line of succession after the vice-president.
Former House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota faced controversy for inviting and paying tribute to a World War II veteran with ties to Hitler’s Waffen SS. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held Mr. Rota solely responsible for the incident.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions,” Mr. Rota told the House of Commons on Sept. 26 while announcing his resignation. He became Speaker in 2019 and was first elected as a Liberal MP in 2004.
Before resigning, Mr. Rota was appreciated by his peers for standing up to the government on the Winnipeg laboratory documents scandal.
“Rota told MPs that he would fight ‘tooth and nail’ to protect the principle ‘that the legal system does not have jurisdiction over the operations of the House. We are our own (court).’ This is the kind of leadership he should be remembered for,” wrote Mr. Sloan on X.
The power granted to the U.S. House Speaker is a feature unique to the American system. Other Western democracies, such as Canada, France, and Germany, have different models for their parliamentary leadership positions.
Many countries follow variations of the U.K. model of the Westminster system of parliamentary government, including Canada, where the Speaker of the House is independent and oversees debates.
France, which is a republic with a president like the United States, also has a Speaker elected by members of the National Assembly. The president of the National Assembly serves a similar role as that within the Westminster system, organizing parliamentary work and steering debates during sessions.
The national parliament in Germany, the Bundestag, is led by a president with a role similar to the House Speaker in Canada. But that individual occupies the second-highest office of state after the federal president. Aside from overseeing debate, the president also manages the administration of the Bundestag and serves as its ambassador in the public domain.
Jackson Richman, Lawrence Wilson, and Chandra Philip contributed to this report.
How does the removal of the Canadian Speaker differ from the intense infighting among Republicans over the U.S. Speaker position?
Ility for the error, and I regret the pain and hurt it has caused,” Mr. Rota said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Speaker position has become a battleground between factions within the Republican party. The intense infighting highlights the political power and significance of the position.
It is clear that the roles and responsibilities of the House Speakers in Canada and the United States differ greatly. While the Canadian Speaker focuses on maintaining order and presiding over ceremonies, the U.S. Speaker is a key political figure who sets the agenda and makes deals with the opposition.
Conclusion
The recent turmoil surrounding the Speaker positions in Canada and the United States showcases the contrasting nature of political life in the two countries. While the removal of the Canadian Speaker caused controversy and calls for accountability, the infighting among Republicans over the U.S. Speaker position demonstrates the intense power struggle within the party.
These differences highlight the unique political dynamics and challenges faced by each country. The Speaker position in the United States holds significant power and influence, while in Canada it is primarily a ceremonial role.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial to recognize and understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of these positions in order to navigate and interpret the political events and developments in both countries.
This article was written based on the sources found at www.theepochtimes.com.
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