House of Commons

26 May

New House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia Takes the Gavel Amid Renewed Parliamentary Session

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaFrancis Scarpaleggia, House of Commons, Speaker of the House

National Times Bureau, May 26, 2025: Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia has been elected the 39th Speaker of the House of Commons, marking a significant shift in parliamentary leadership. The Quebec MP, who has represented Lac-Saint-Louis since 2004, won the Speaker’s chair following the resignation of Greg Fergus. His election coincides with a fresh chapter for the House, which is reconvening after a five-month hiatus.Scarpaleggia brings to the position over two decades of parliamentary experience, having chaired the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Colleagues view him as a steady and balanced figure, with a reputation for…

26 May

NDP Falls Short of Official Party Status in House of Commons Post-Historic Defeat

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada2025 Federal Election, House of Commons, NDP, official party status

Ottawa, May 26, 2025: The New Democratic Party (NDP) will not be granted official party status in the House of Commons, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon confirmed on Monday. The decision comes in the wake of the party’s worst electoral performance in Canadian history, following the 2025 federal election.Under the Parliament of Canada Act, a political party must secure at least 12 seats in the House to attain official party status. The NDP won just seven seats, far below the required threshold. The consequences are severe—without official status, the NDP loses vital parliamentary privileges, including increased speaking time, committee memberships,…