A House of Commons committee says Greg Fergus should stay in his job as Speaker, but he should apologize again and reimburse Parliament for using its resources to make a video that was shown at a partisan event. Fergus appears as a witness at a standing committee of Procedures and House Affairs on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – A House of Commons committee says Greg Fergus should stay in his job as Speaker, but he should apologize again and reimburse Parliament for using its resources to make a video that was shown at a partisan event.
In a report released this morning, the procedure and House affairs committee also says there should be clear guidelines for future Speakers about the impartiality of their role.
The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois have called for Fergus to resign over a video in tribute to the outgoing interim leader of the Ontario Liberals, and renewed those calls today.
Fergus shot the video in his office while wearing his ceremonial robes, and it was played at the provincial party’s recent leadership convention, though the Speaker says he didn’t know it would be used that way.
The committee’s report does not say how much Fergus should pay to reimburse Parliament.
All members of Parliament are expected to vote on the report later today.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2023.
