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There have been 37 speakers of the House of Commons in Canadian history dating back to 1867. Incumbent Speaker Anthony Rota feels he has positioned himself in such a way as there will not be a 38th any time soon.
Rota, 60, won re-election in September for his sixth term as the Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming and confirms he is also seeking a return as Speaker of the House.
All 338 MPs vote to determine which of the five candidates join — or re-join, in Rota's case — the exclusive club. Rota remains Speaker of the House until that vote takes place, Nov. 22.
"The first thing we do when we get back is we elect a Speaker," Rota explains. "I've let my name stand again, it's looking very favourable, but elections are funny things and you never take anything for granted."
Of the five candidates, two are Liberal, two are Conservatives, and one is a New Democrat but in a minority government situation, the opposition parties hold the balance of power. In 2019, Rota was thrust into the position over incumbent Speaker and fellow Liberal Geoff Regan in a power play of sorts by the opposition.
Looming over Rota's return to the nation's capital is his stance this past year against his own party's attempts to restrict access to documents regarding the firing of two Chinese scientists from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
In his role as Speaker, according to a Canadian Press report, Rota was named as a respondent in the government's application in court to block the release of requested documents. Rota maintained the move was a violation of parliamentary privilege and must be tossed out of court.
"People view it — and I have been talking to a number of MPs — that I took a very principled stand and I did what was right instead of what was political and I think that's what you need in a Speaker, someone who will do the right thing, not what is politically expedient for them."
Rota adds, "I've always believed in doing the right thing — it pays off in the long run. It may not win you favours in the short term but it does win you respect. And, once you have people's respect, I think they like you and want to work with you."
Asked if he has fallen out of favour with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's regime, Rota insists that is not the case.
"The government did not want to disclose documents that they thought would be injurious to national security. They were doing what they thought was best. I was doing what was legal for the House of Commons. The House was requesting certain documents and was entitled to get them and that's what I stood on," Rota declares.
The crux of the disagreement was over which entity should redact the documents in question in the name of national security, Rota adds. "What I'd like to see, if something like this comes up again, is the government and opposition come together before it reaches that level."
Rota knows the affair will play a role in the race, and he is fine with that because "the way I conducted myself has been fair — is the word I hear — more often than not. And, that's what I'd like to be known as — and remembered as — as Speaker."
While Rota says he continues to be honoured to serve as Speaker of the House and perform all of the duties that entails, his responsibilities to his constituents in Nipissing–Timiskaming are never lost on him. In fact, he firmly believes his position is a bonus for the riding.
"It certainly raises the profile of the riding. And, it does make it easier to access ministers or any services that are needed for the riding," says Rota. "One thing to remember is if you're a minister or the Speaker, the responsibilities are very similar. It doesn't mean that you do one at the expense of the other. One benefits the other."
Rota will soon return to Ottawa and will represent Parliament by placing a wreath at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day, as he did last year, with the Nov. 22 election for the Speaker of the House of Commons to follow.
