Andrew Scheer, new Speaker of the House

[Topaz]

Andrew Scheer, who does have experience as deputy speaker, I believe and I won $50.00 in a bet who it would be. It was reported it was Harper's choice. So now Harper has Canada in his hands, and lets see what he does with it.

[Smallc]

It doesn't matter if it was Harper's choice, he only has one vote, and the ballots are secret.

[August1991]

... a 32 year old who doesn't speak French. Heck, he's like Vegas girl.

Stephen Harper will now dominate this House. And his only credible opposition will be in the far corner.

[RNG]

... a 32 year old who doesn't speak French. Heck, he's like Vegas girl.

Stephen Harper will now dominate this House. And his only credible opposition will be in the far corner.

According to the CBC website this morning, he may be the youngest, but he is also the one with the most house of commons experience of the contenders. So a good choice. Deal with it.

[August1991]

Deal with it.

If Stephen Harper thinks that Vegas girl, Jack Layton (with a cane) and a 32 year old Speaker are the "opposition", he is mistaken.

IMHO, I can understand Harper's logic since he wants to put all the eggs to his side. But in four years, the opposition will not be so pliant. And then, it's game over.

[Bonam]

IMHO, I can understand Harper's logic since he wants to put all the eggs to his side. But in four years, the opposition will not be so pliant. And then, it's game over.

A lot can happen in 4 years. Trying to make predictions of the political situation in Ottawa 4 years down the road is a fool's task.

[Smallc]

... a 32 year old who doesn't speak French. Heck, he's like Vegas girl.

No. First, he's partially bilingual, and second, he was deputy speaker in the last HoC.

[capricorn]

If Stephen Harper thinks that Vegas girl, Jack Layton (with a cane) and a 32 year old Speaker are the "opposition", he is mistaken.

I don't think that is what Harper thinks at all. What Harper is probably thinking is he can't believe the cards he has been dealt. First off, he wins a majority without support in Quebec. Next, the NDP decimates the Bloc, opening the way for federalist parties to cement their hold on Quebec. My sense is that Quebecers, always looking for ways to milk the federation, will tire of the NDP's inability to deliver the goods. Given their intense dislike of the Conservatives the opportunity is ripe for the Liberals to make amends and gain favour within La Belle Province. If the Liberals play their cards right, I foresee the Liberals replacing the NDP in Quebec as the federalist option in the next election.

IMHO, I can understand Harper's logic since he wants to put all the eggs to his side.

As some observers have said, the Speaker's job is made easier when there is a majority government. I doubt that has anything to do with which party the Speaker represents. It's just the nature of the beast.

But in four years, the opposition will not be so pliant. And then, it's game over.

In four years, the opposition will not be organized to the point of being a viable alternative to the Conservatives, who appear on course to running a middle of the road and uncontentious administration. As they say, steady as she goes and don't upset the apple cart. In eight years no doubt it will be time for a change and unless I'm six feet under, I may be leading the charge.

For all my crystal ball gazings to materialize, the Liberals need to win back blue Liberals, woo NDP malcontents and speak to westerners in a language they can understand. A tall order I know. But after what happened in Quebec in the last election, anything's possible.

[Smallc]

Given their intense dislike of the Conservatives

I don't think that's fair at all. If the Conservatives govern at least competently, they have a 100% chance of gaining substantial (like 15 - 20) seats.

[Tilter]

... a 32 year old who doesn't speak French. Heck, he's like Vegas girl.

Stephen Harper will now dominate this House. And his only credible opposition will be in the far corner.

Wrong--- he does speak French altho he, like my nephew, who studied French in Montreal at the university level & spent 2 years in university in France learning French because he was born in Alberta will never be considered a "true" Quebequer even tho he teaches French in a private school in Montreal. The Quebekkers are a picky lot.

[fellowtraveller]

Given their intense dislike of the Conservatives

I wonder if Quebec likes Harper any better now that he just gave them $2.2 billion in pure gravy.

Jacques Layton can easily top that though by....by.... oh forget it.

[August1991]

I don't think that is what Harper thinks at all. What Harper is probably thinking is he can't believe the cards he has been dealt. First off, he wins a majority without support in Quebec. Next, the NDP decimates the Bloc, opening the way for federalist parties to cement their hold on Quebec. My sense is that Quebecers, always looking for ways to milk the federation, will tire of the NDP's inability to deliver the goods. Given their intense dislike of the Conservatives the opportunity is ripe for the Liberals to make amends and gain favour within La Belle Province. If the Liberals play their cards right, I foresee the Liberals replacing the NDP in Quebec as the federalist option in the next election.

...

In four years, the opposition will not be organized to the point of being a viable alternative to the Conservatives, who appear on course to running a middle of the road and uncontentious administration. As they say, steady as she goes and don't upset the apple cart. In eight years no doubt it will be time for a change and unless I'm six feet under, I may be leading the charge.

For all my crystal ball gazings to materialize, the Liberals need to win back blue Liberals, woo NDP malcontents and speak to westerners in a language they can understand. A tall order I know. But after what happened in Quebec in the last election, anything's possible.

Capricorn, there is alot of conjecture in your post, and much I tend to agree with.

I disagree with your statement that "Quebecers, always looking for ways to milk the federation". This is a perception in English Canada ("Quebecers are smart voters") but in fact the perception is false. Quebecers are clueless in Canadian federal politics. Imagine if you were asked to vote in an election in Argentina? What would you do? That is how many Quebecers vote in federal elections.

[Smallc]

That is how many Quebecers vote in federal elections.

Oh yeah right. As if Quebecers never hear anything about Harper, or the federal government, or the rest of Canada.

[August1991]

And you can thank the amateurness of the NDP for this choice:

Andrew Scheer has been in the Speaker’s chair for about all of a New York minute – and already there is whispering in the Commons corridors about his age, his competence and his ability to keep the House from erupting into schoolyard antics.

NDP MP Denise Savoie, the only opposition member running for the post and the only woman, did not drop out of the race to allow for a showdown on the final ballot between Mr. Scheer and Calgary Tory Lee Richardson, who at 63 years of age is much older (and some believe, wiser).

...

Here’s what was happening behind the scenes, according to several sources. Mr. Richardson and his team had approached the NDP and their candidate, Ms. Savoie. The suggestion was that she drop off the ballot when it came down to just a few candidates as a way of trying to beat Mr. Scheer. In return she would be guaranteed the deputy speaker post, according to a source.

The NDP have 103 members and the Conservatives have 166, so it was clear how the vote would split if she and Mr. Scheer remained on the final ballot. But the rumoured deal didn’t work out as Ms. Savoie stayed on until the bitter end and Mr. Richardson was forced out after the fifth and second-last ballot. The candidate with the fewest votes has to drop off after each secret ballot.

Some MPs are saying now the New Democrats really believed they had a shot at placing Ms. Savoie in the Speaker’s chair and that they only needed to switch six Tory votes to make that happen. But it never materialized. Now, some MPs are saying the NDP – which is new to Official Opposition – blew it.

G&M Edited June 6, 2011 by August1991

[jbg]

... a 32 year old who doesn't speak French. Heck, he's like Vegas girl.

Stephen Harper will now dominate this House. And his only credible opposition will be in the far corner.

How would that be different from any other majority government with more than a slender majority?

[Dave_ON]

How would that be different from any other majority government with more than a slender majority?

The difference is this is the first Anglo, protestant PM with a majority that achieved it without any significant assistance from Quebec. That's is no mean feat. I find this fascinating, as I'm certain some folks in Quebec are upset by this. However, it's not like Harper can lose more ground in Quebec, so why should he bother pandering to them?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Harper chose the speaker, that was parliament that did that. But I think that if Quebec is expecting some goodies, from the Harper government they'll be sorely disappointed. He has no political reason to do so.

[Smallc]

Actually, I think that Quebec will get things from this government. I think Harper will want to run again, and, as you say, he has nowhere to go but up. Witness the upcoming HST deal.

[Remiel]

But there is grumbling that he is too young to be what is in effect the chief operating officer of such a large organization. And when push comes to shove in the Chamber, there are questions of whether he will remain totally non-partisan. He is known as a very nice guy – but also a Stephen Harper guy.

Every other guy who has been Speaker has also had to check their partisanship at the door. As well, Speakers are bound up by convention and precedence, as many others are.

Here’s what was happening behind the scenes, according to several sources. Mr. Richardson and his team had approached the NDP and their candidate, Ms. Savoie. The suggestion was that she drop off the ballot when it came down to just a few candidates as a way of trying to beat Mr. Scheer. In return she would be guaranteed the deputy speaker post, according to a source.

Yes, because that was not self serving of Richardson at all...

[August1991]

Remiel, the point is that Scheer is Harper's guy. Stephen Harper is going to dominate this parliament.

If the NDP had been a little more professional, they could have had someone older, wiser and more willing to stand up to Harper.

[Remiel]

Remiel, the point is that Scheer is Harper's guy. Stephen Harper is going to dominate this parliament.

If the NDP had been a little more professional, they could have had someone older, wiser and more willing to stand up to Harper.

How do you know that Richardson would be more willing to stand up to Harper?

[RNG]

Remiel, the point is that Scheer is Harper's guy. Stephen Harper is going to dominate this parliament.

If the NDP had been a little more professional, they could have had someone older, wiser and more willing to stand up to Harper.

Harper won a majority. The people of Canada have spoken. You loser dudes have to deal with it. Bummer for you.

[Tilter]

If Stephen Harper thinks that Vegas girl, Jack Layton (with a cane) and a 32 year old Speaker are the "opposition", he is mistaken.

IMHO, I can understand Harper's logic since he wants to put all the eggs to his side. But in four years, the opposition will not be so pliant. And then, it's game over.

Yeah---- Sure sure---- In 4 years Quebec is going to be so sick of the uselessness of the NDP they'll send them all back to --- College top finish their advertised qualifications or to Vegas to see if she can win some money cause she's never going to win an argument i THOC

[August1991]

How do you know that Richardson would be more willing to stand up to Harper?

Because he's older, wiser and less likely to be intimidated. I guess.

Harper won a majority. The people of Canada have spoken. You loser dudes have to deal with it. Bummer for you.

RNG, I tend to be a conservative in these parts so Harper's election is not a "bummer" for me.

My fear is that the NDP Official Opposition are amateurs and worse, their caucus will soon divide into three factions (wacky federalist English Canada, English Quebec, French Quebec) or maybe more if we add the potential ideological divides. (Leftists preach solidarity but they in fact never get along in practice.)

IOW, I fear that Harper (and the Conservatives) will grow complacent and in 2014, they will face a real opposition that suddenly has come out of nowhere.

Yeah---- Sure sure---- In 4 years Quebec is going to be so sick of the uselessness of the NDP they'll send them all back to --- College top finish their advertised qualifications or to Vegas to see if she can win some money cause she's never going to win an argument i THOC

My first advice to Vegas was to stay there. She has zero chance of getting re-elected but with Harper's majority, she's guaranteed over $150,000 annually for the next four years. She should take the money and run. Edited June 9, 2011 by August1991

[Molly]

My first advice to Vegas was to stay there. She has zero chance of getting re-elected but with Harper's majority, she's guaranteed over $150,000 annually for the next four years. She should take the money and run.

Every time someone directs yet another inappropriately sour and personal comment to that young woman I want her to succeed all the more, make you all choke on your runaway sexism. Really, if Maxime Bernier (for one glaring example) can be treated as a credible adult, the bar is snake-belly looooo-o-ow. All she's ever done to offend anyone,or to earn such withering disrespect is to let her name stand, and be chosen.

What a crime. What a heinous sin.

[jbg]

Harper won a majority. The people of Canada have spoken. You loser dudes have to deal with it. Bummer for you.

That's exactly Mulroney's post-1988 attitude after the PCPC was re-elected. We don't want a repeat performance.

IOW, I fear that Harper (and the Conservatives) will grow complacent and in 2014, they will face a real opposition that suddenly has come out of nowhere.

Exactly what I'm afraid of. Plus there's always a chance some part of the "united" CPC flakes off for soem unknown reason, as happened with both Reform and the Bloc between shortly before the 1988 triumph and the 1993 debacle.

My first advice to Vegas was to stay there. She has zero chance of getting re-elected but with Harper's majority, she's guaranteed over $150,000 annually for the next four years. She should take the money and run.

Unless she loses it gambling.