Scott Reid defeats Perry Trimper for Speaker as House of Assembly opens fall sitting

Scott Reid has been elected as the new Speaker of the House of Assembly.

The MHA for St. George's-Humber was elected via secret ballot as the first order of business Monday afternoon, on the first day of the fall sitting of the provincial legislature.

"It is a great honour to be in this position," said Reid, shortly after donning the speaker robe.

The election was a two-MHA race between Reid and Lake Melville MHAPerry Trimper. Trimper was the last Speaker, but resigned that role, as well as his cabinet position, after leaving remarks about the Innu people playing "the race card" in a voicemailto a staffer at the Innu Nation.

Reid had been acting Speakersincethat resignation.

The InnuNation voiced their support for Reid in a tweet.

Derek Bennett, the MHA for Lewisporte-Twillingate, was named deputy speaker on Monday, in a motion put forward by Premier Dwight Ball.

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