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The Citizen's Guide to the Alberta Legislature
Part III: Rules and Traditions (Continued...)

The Speaker

Each day the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly open when the Sergeant-at-Arms calls “Order, order! Mr. Speaker!" and leads a procession into the Chamber. Following the Sergeant-at-Arms is the Speaker, wearing traditional parliamentary robes. The Speaker takes the chair at the head of the Chamber and referees the Assembly's daily business.

Like all other Members of the Legislative Assembly, Speakers are first elected to represent one of the province's constituencies. In order to be considered for the role of Speaker, a Member must be nominated by another Member. From those nominated, a Speaker is then elected by secret ballot at the beginning of the first legislative session following a provincial election. Once elected, Speakers become servants of the Assembly. In this role they must be impartial and all MLAs must accept their authority.

A Colourful Past

The history of Speakership dates back to the earliest parliaments of Great Britain. The first person to be called the Speaker was Sir Thomas Hungerford in 1377. In those days the Speaker's job was to tell Parliament the monarch's wishes and, in turn, to advise the monarch of Parliament's resolutions. If these resolutions angered the monarch or threatened the monarchy's power, which they often did, the monarch sometimes took revenge by killing the Speaker. In parliamentary history at least nine Speakers died violent deaths for telling kings and queens news they didn't want to hear. Some historians even think that the original purpose of the opening procession was to provide Speakers with bodyguards to protect them from harm as they entered the Assembly Chamber.

At one time the Speaker's job could be very dangerous. Our modern parliaments remember that history: the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition “force” a newly elected Speaker to the chair, seemingly against his or her will. .

Although early Speakers in Great Britain were the mouthpieces of Parliament, they were not always the servants of Parliament as they are now. In fact, the first Speakers were appointed by the monarch, not by Parliament. The Speaker's role changed as the parliamentary system evolved. Parliament first came into being because people resented being taxed and having no control over how the monarch spent their money. Over many centuries monarchs empowered Parliament, particularly the House of Commons, to levy taxes, spend tax dollars, and make laws.

Due to that shift of power, the Speaker's loyalty soon shifted from the monarch to the House of Commons. In 1629 King Charles I ordered Speaker Sir John Finch to adjourn a session of the House. When Speaker Finch rose to obey the king's order, angry Members of Parliament tried to force him to remain in the chair, reminding him that he was supposed to be their servant, not the king's.

Speaker Finch and Charles I won that dispute and dissolved Parliament, but 13 years later, when the United Kingdom was on the verge of civil war, Charles barged into the Chamber and demanded the surrender of five
members opposed to his policies. Speaker William Lenthall refused, saying, “I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here." He was telling the king in no uncertain terms that the Speaker served Parliament and Parliament only. That moment was a turning point in the history of Parliament for it helped to establish the Speaker's independence from the Crown. By the end of the 17th century the Speaker was an appointee of Parliament and not of the monarch.

“I have neither eyes to see . . .” Speaker Lenthall establishing the Speaker's independence from the Crown.

Alberta's Speakers

The Speaker is elected by secret ballot on the first sitting day of each new legislature. Since the Speaker represents the Assembly, he or she must serve all MLAs equally, no matter what party they belong to. This means that in the Assembly Chamber, the Speaker

• ensures that all MLAs follow parliamentary rules as they ask or answer questions, debate, or vote;
• gives all MLAs a fair chance to speak;
• ensures that the special rights and privileges of Members and of the Assembly as a whole are protected; and
• cannot take part in debate, ask or answer questions during Oral Question Period, or vote except to break a tie.

The Speaker is also the head of the Legislative Assembly Office (LAO), which provides a range of services to all MLAs. These include office support for MLAs in their constituencies and at the Legislature, legal and procedural advice, and programs to help MLAs serve their constituents and do the Assembly's business efficiently (see page 71, The Legislative Assembly Office). As head of the LAO the Speaker also has the enjoyable task of receiving official guests of the province, such as ambassadors or consuls general.

Because the Speaker represents the Legislative Assembly, members must show the Speaker the same respect they would show the Assembly as an institution. Therefore, members

• do not question the Speaker's rulings on parliamentary
  procedure except by a formal motion of nonconfidence, although they may ask the Speaker to explain a ruling;
• do not enter or leave the Chamber while the Speaker is standing;
• do not interrupt the Speaker;
• address all comments in the Chamber to the Speaker, the Assembly's messenger to the Crown; and
• do not walk between the Speaker and a member who is speaking.

The key characteristics of the Speakership are authority and impartiality. The Assembly grants the Speaker the authority to direct its debates and proceedings, and the Speaker does so without favouring MLAs from one political party over those from another.

Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

As the servant of the Assembly the Speaker represents the whole Assembly. The Speaker is also a vital link with parliaments and legislatures across Canada and around the world. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is perhaps the most important vehicle for interaction with other parliamentarians. The CPA is comprised of elected members from over 150 parliaments. Alberta's Legislative Assembly is one branch of the CPA, and the current Speaker is president of the branch.

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Table of Contents
Part I: The Foundation — Part II: Representing the People
Part III: Rules and Traditions — Part IV: Getting the Business Done
Part V: Other Topics of Interest — Glossary — Study Questions

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