Tories, Bloc Call on House Speaker to Resign Over Message at ‘Partisan Event’

Greg Fergus’s recorded video message thanking the departing interim leader of the Ontario Liberals was played at the party’s leadership convention.

Speaker Greg Fergus makes a Speaker's Statement before Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 18, 2023. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus has apologized for a video message he recorded that was played during an Ontario Liberal leadership convention over the weekend, while some opposition parties are calling for him to step down over the issue, citing impartiality concerns.

“It should not be seen as partisan to recognize a colleague’s departure. It is an act of friendship and respect. That said, I would like to apologize and reassure members that this kind of event will not happen again,” Mr. Fergus told MPs in the House of Commons on Dec. 4.

“I would like to reassure members that the principles of respect, impartiality, and decorum are values that I will continue to prioritize.”

Over the weekend, Mr. Fergus appeared in a video message played at the Ontario Liberal leadership convention, where he is seen exiting the Speakers’ chamber wearing the traditional robes of his role to speak about his relationship with former Ontario Liberal leaders Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne.

“We had a lot of fun together through the Ottawa South Liberal Association, through Liberal Party politics, by helping Dalton McGuinty get elected,” Mr. Fergus says in the video. Mr. McGuinty is leaving as the interim provincial Liberal leader after Bonnie Crombie was elected on Dec. 2.

According to parliamentary rules, the Speaker of the House must always show “the impartiality required to maintain the trust and goodwill of the House.”

Mr. Fergus told the House of Commons that he had been asked to record the video for a “long-standing friend who is retiring,” and said he regretted that the video had been “used for other means.”

“It was broadcast to colleagues at the convention of a party of which I’m not a member, in a province where I do not live, in a jurisdiction where I have not voted for 30 years,” he said. “We’re just people. After we leave politics, we will be just people. More importantly, while we serve here as parliamentarians, we are people. Like all of you, I have deep and abiding relationships with people from all political backgrounds.”

Calls for House Speaker to Resign

Bloc Quebecois MP Alain Therrien said his party was calling for Mr. Fergus to resign, saying he had not shown the two “essential” qualities of impartiality and good judgment.

“Unfortunately... the current Speaker has demonstrated that he has neither of those two essential qualities. That was clear after what occurred this weekend, and that’s why the Bloc calls on the Speaker to resign as soon as possible,” said Mr. Therrien in the House.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said Mr Fergus’ explanation that he did not know where the recorded message would be shared was “utterly preposterous” and “an affront to the House.” Tory MP Luc Berthold also said they were calling for the Speaker to resign.

NDP MP Charlie Angus said the incident was “serious” but took no position on whether Mr. Fergus should resign from his position, nor did any Liberal MPs.

Independent MP Kevin Vuong, who was originally nominated as a Liberal Party candidate in 2021, said on platform X that he never recalled former House Speaker Anthony Rota “taking part in a partisan event” in the two years he was in his role. “As of today, Greg Fergus has only been in the role for 2 months,” Mr. Vuoung said in reference to the video.

Mr. Fergus was elected as House Speaker following an incident where Mr. Rota invited to Parliament and recognized a former member of the Nazi SS during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Ottawa in September. Mr. Rota apologized shortly after the incident but was forced to resign from his position.

‘Unacceptable’

Before Mr. Fergus delivered his apology, Conservative MP and House Leader Andrew Scheer rose in the House to explain why the actions had breached the Speaker’s tradition of impartiality and later called on him to resign.

“I recognize that in some instances, complaints about the Speaker—but more particularly those concerning rulings—should proceed by way of a motion to place that notice, but I believe the current circumstances amount to such a breach of the impartiality of the chair that it warrants priority consideration by the House immediately,” Mr. Scheer said during his question of privilege.

Mr. Scheer said Mr. Fergus had worn the “full non-partisan trappings of his non-partisan office,” while paying tribute to “a partisan friend at a partisan event.” He also pointed to an interview Mr. Fergus gave to the Globe and Mail, where he said interim Ontario Liberal leader John Fraser had “demonstrated so much calm and conviction and resolve and determination,” and “held it all together at a very challenging time for our party.”

“This conduct is simply unacceptable. It defies all long-standing traditions and expectations attached to the high office of Speaker,” said Mr. Scheer, who previously served as House Speaker and later the leader of the federal Conservative Party.

“I was absolutely flabbergasted when a photo of his participation at the liberal convention was first drawn to my attention. I am still 48 hours later, deeply appalled and frankly deeply offended,” said Mr. Scheer.

Mr. Scheer said that the actions of Mr. Fergus should be treated as a “prima facie contempt of the House,” proposed a motion calling for MPs to denounce the incident, and for the Procedure and House Affairs Committee to recommend an “appropriate remedy for this utterly unprecedented and completely avoidable problem.”

“It’s a difficult thing to say, especially as a former Speaker, but I do believe that this has undermined the position of the Speaker so greatly that I must add my voice and the voice of those of the official opposition to those who have asked the Speaker to resign,” he said.