House of Commons.

• Author: Bernier, Richard
• Position: Legislative Reports

As a result of a federal general election on May 2, a majority Government was formed with 166 Conservatives elected and 103 New Democrats forming the Official Opposition for the first time. Returning with only 34 Members, the Liberals became the third party in the House, the first time in their history that they have not formed either the Government or the Official Opposition. Having held 47 seats at the time of dissolution of the last Parliament, the Bloc Quebecois returned with just four seats. The leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May, won her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, thus the first time that a Green Party member was elected to the House of Commons. The latter five Members officially sit as Independents, since official party status in the House requires that at least twelve Members identify as members of a given party. Two party leaders, Michael Ignatieff of the Liberal Party and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois, lost their seats and subsequently resigned. Bob Rae (Toronto Centre) was appointed Interim Leader of the Liberal Party.

Opening: Election of a New Speaker and Speech from the Throne

The 41st Parliament opened on June 2, 2011. Its first order of business, pursuant to Standing Order 2, was to elect a new Speaker from among the eight Members who had allowed their names to stand for the Speakership. Louis Plamondon (Bas-Richelieu--Nicolet--Becancour), the Member with the longest period of unbroken service in the House, presided accordingly over the election of the Speaker. Andrew Scheer (Regina--Qu'Appelle) was elected on the sixth ballot, securing his first mandate as Speaker of the House. Mr. Scheer, 32, is the youngest Speaker in the history of the Canadian Commons.

Governor-General David Johnston delivered the Speech from the Throne on June 3, 2011 in the Senate Chamber, in the presence of the assembled Members, Senators, Justices of the Supreme Court and other dignitaries and guests. The theme of the Throne Speech was "Here for all Canadians--Stability. Prosperity. Security."

Legislation

Prior to adjourning for the summer, the House of Commons debated and adopted the following legislation: Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mega-trials); Bill C-3, An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011; Bill C-6, An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of postal services; and Bills C-8 and C-9, Acts for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the...