An Act Respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office
(Installing the Speaker of the House of Commons)
Bill Type: House Government Bill, Pro Forma
Bill Sponsor: Prime Minister
Status: Introduction and First Reading on Tuesday, May 27, 2025
(House of Commons)
Bill C-1 is a ceremonial Bill introduced at the opening of the 45th Parliament. It symbolically asserts the House of Commons' right to conduct business before considering the Government's Legislative agenda — yet the Bill itself exposes the gap between Parliament's claimed independence and its actual control by the party in power.
WHO GAINS POWER
The Speaker of the House gains authority to control debate, shut down microphones, recognize or ignore members and shield Government from scrutiny — selected by MPs in a closed-door vote, NOT elected by actual Canadians.
⚠️Speaker Capture— The Speaker is selected by MPs under party influence, not elected by Canadians. Government and Party Whips can effectively install a compliant Speaker who protects their interests rather than enforcing Parliamentary rules impartially.
The pattern of Speaker abuse is observable:
- Speaker Greg Fergus repeatedly shut down opposition MPs' microphones to protect Government from scrutiny
- Speaker Greg Fergus expelled Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner from the House for asking accountability questions
- Speaker Anthony Rota invited a 98-year-old Waffen-SS veteran to the House during President Zelenskyy's visit; the entire House gave a standing ovation and Rota resigned to shield Government from accountability
WHO LOSES POWER
Voters lose any choice in who controls Parliamentary debate and procedure. Canadians don't elect the Speaker — MPs select them in a closed-door process that prioritizes party loyalty over public accountability.
Opposition MPs lose the ability to hold Government accountable when the Speaker shuts down debate, cuts microphones, ejects members or refuses to recognize those asking difficult questions.
Democratic accountability loses when the Speaker becomes a political shield — taking the fall for scandals, silencing dissent or expelling critics to protect any Government from scrutiny.
WHO GAINS MONEY
The Speaker gains a taxpayer-funded salary ($299,900), pension, official residence, staff, security and travel budget — with no requirement to answer to voters or face re-election based on performance.
Parliamentary staff, consultants and the bureaucracy supporting Parliamentary immunity gain budgets and positions with minimal public oversight.
WHO LOSES MONEY
Taxpayers fund a Speaker and Parliamentary system that claims independence but operates as a partisan tool. Canadians pay for a ceremonial Bill that pretends to assert Parliamentary rights while the actual Speaker selection process ensures party control, not public accountability.
THE CATCH
⚠️No Independent Oversight of the Speaker
- Voters — no choice in selection, no recall mechanism
- An independent watchdog — no Ethics Commissioner or ombudsman reviews any Speaker conduct
- Performance review — no evaluation of impartiality or abuse of authority
- Courts — Parliamentary immunity shields Speaker decisions from judicial review
The only removal mechanism is a vote by MPs — meaning the ruling party protects their Speaker even when power is abused.
⚠️ Accountability Capture— The Prime Minister appoints every person and office responsible for holding Government accountable — including the Ethics Commissioner, Auditor General, Supreme Court Judges and RCMP Commissioners. These positions are funded by taxpayers and presented as independent but are selected by the person they are meant to regulate.
- Speaker of the House — selected by MPs under party control, not elected by voters
- Senate — Appointed directly by the PM, supposed to provide a second review of Legislation
- Supreme Court Judges — Appointed by the PM, supposed to check Government power
- Ethics Commissioner — Appointed by the PM, supposed to investigate PM conduct
- Auditor General — Appointed by the PM, supposed to audit Government spending
- RCMP Commissioner — Appointed by the PM, supposed to investigate Government crimes
⚠️Regulatory Capture— whoever forms Government Appoints the people who are supposed to hold them accountable. Taxpayers foot the bill — and have no say in who gets the job.
- Speaker of the House — $299,900/year
- Judges — $350,000+/year
- Auditor General — $400,000+/year
All Appointed by the Prime Minister. All supposed to be independent.