As one MP put it, "Seven of us are facing the rest of us, the most astute electors in the country."

Krista Erickson

Those astute electors are Members of Parliament and the prize in this race is the Speaker's chair.

A new session of Parliament began this morning with 7 MPs actively vying to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons.

Four Conservatives, 2 Liberals and one NDP member delivered speeches, appealing to the rest of their colleagues for support. (An eighth name is on the ballot, but Conservative Rob Anders did not give a speech.)

While the candidates have different political backgrounds, their speeches shared a common theme: the need for change. Nearly all of the candidates spoke of a desire to restore order and decorum in the House of Commons, in particular during question period. A responsibility which falls principally to the Speaker.

Barry Devolin, one of the Conservative MP's standing for Speaker said in his speech to the House, "There is no other setting I can think of where people are routinely exposed to the abuse members are exposed to here."

But the incumbent in this race offered a different insight. Peter Milliken is a Liberal MP and has been Speaker of the House of Commons since January 2001. He said the responsibility of order and decorum largely rests with the members themselves. "No amount of interference can work to impose order on members," he said.

Members will vote by secret ballot throughout the day in the House of Commons. Voting on the first ballot is now underway.

Krista Erickson