A Question of Privilege: The Speaker as Guardian of the House of Commons

Executive dominance and strict party discipline have significantly weakened the ability of Members of Parliament (MPs) to effectively scrutinize government decisions,1 resulting in a widespread loss of public confidence in the legitimacy of the House of Commons.2 In the face of these growing challenges, this essay seeks to examine the role of the Speaker of the House in defending the authority of. [...] The powers and role of the Speaker are first reviewed, then analyzed in the context of the battle between the government and the House over the firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in early 2021. [...] In response to shortcomings of the role of the Speaker revealed by the case study, possible reforms are introduced that aim to increase the Speaker’s power and improve the transparency of government, as well as its accountability to the House of Commons. [...] The Speaker of the House The role of the Speaker was inherited from the Westminster system and dates back to Medieval England, where they served as the spokesperson for the House before the Crown.3 Over time, the position has evolved in ways that have significantly increased the Speaker’s power in exercising leadership in the House.4 Speakers today have three general duties: they preside over deba. [...] Conclusion The declining role of MPs in Canadian parliamentary democracy is reflected in the Speaker’s lack of power in defending the ability of the House to hold the government to account.