Here's how Speakers of the House keep rowdy politicians in line - Action News
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Here's how Speakers of the House keep rowdy politicians in line

The politicians who keep order in Canada's legislatures have gathered in Labrador to swap notes and sharpen styles.

Speakers gathered in Labrador this week to sharpen their styles

John Bercow captured some viral attention with his unique style of speakership over the UK's House of Commons (CBC)

It takes a lot to keep a room full of rowdy elected officials in order, so Speakers of the house from parliaments across country decided tocomparenotes in Labrador this week on how to do it best.

Speakers from provincial and federal legislatures metat the annual Canadian Presiding Officers conference inHappy Valley-Goose Bay.

"To be honest with you I'm still working on my style," Daniel Guitardsaid.

Daniel Guitard is only three months in as Speaker of the N.B. legislature. He's hoping to pick up some tips at the annual conference. (Jacob Barker/CBC)

Guitardhas only been in the Speaker's chair in the New Brunswick legislature for three months.

"Being here this weekend, guaranteed, will give me some tools to do my job within the House of New Brunswick."

If things kind of seem to be getting out of control, the best thing I can do in one of those situations is, first of all, I control myself.- Buck Watts

Perry Trimper,Speaker of Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly, decided to bring the meeting to Happy Valley-Goose Bayinstead of going to the capital city of the province, where the meetings are traditionally held. Trimper is MHA for the district of Lake Melville.

"These are pros, and to be able to pull it off in one of our venues in Labrador, in this town, it's a great accomplishment," Trimper said.

Speaker's notes

John Bercow recently gave the Speaker's role in the U.K.some notoriety.

His style of keeping the crowded chamber in check through Brexit voteswhich range from growlingdrawn-out bouts of "order!" to pointing at and insulting politicians recently went viral.

Given Canadian legislatures use a similar Westminster system to govern, hisperformance is giving Speakers in attendance at the Happy Valley-Goose Bay conference something to chew on.

"On the Brexit vote, you've had all the MPs there650 MPs in a chamber that only fits about 400 or 450 so ... it's going to cause an incredible tension and noise," said Speaker Nils Clarke, who oversees a19-member legislature in Yukon.

Clarke said he employs a firm but fair approach to keeping his House in order and has had to resort to using the override button to stop members from speaking, but he's never gone so far as to kick somebody out.

"Even [Bercow], with a fairly hefty degree of criticism, and very colourful some would almost say with a very Monty-Pythonesque language he's not naming and ejecting MPs."

Nils Clarke oversees a legislature of 19, far fewer than the 600-plus MPs that crowd the British House of Commons. (Jacob Barker/CBC)

In Nunavut, Speaker Joe Enook says things don't get that wild in his House. The territory is governed by consensus government, which meansthere are no political parties, although somethat aren't in cabinet take on therole of opposition.

"We work ... underInuit principles, one of them being [about] "having a discussion" which respects the the Inuitculture of coming to a discussion in a proper manner," Enook said.

"Our House is pretty tame compared to what I see across the country."

Buck Watts, Speaker of the legislature in P.E.I., says he keeps order in his House with a "fairly firm hand." (Jacob Barker/CBC)

Prince Edward IslandSpeaker Buck Wattssaidhe rules with a "fairly firm hand."

"If things kind of seem to be getting out of control," Watts said. "The best thing I can do in one of those situations is, first of all, I control myself.

"Then I can adapt to control the situation at hand."

In N.L., allegations of harassment and bullying were front and centre last year within the walls of the House of Assembly, a topic up for discussion at this year's conference.

Perry Trimper says it's time to improve the level of discussion in the House of Assembly. (CBC)

"If I've identified a member from a particular district to speak, that's the only member I want to hear from," Trimper said.

"When they've completed, then you can react away as you choose."

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador