Carney thanks Canadians, MPs as the House of Commons resumes
Members convened in Ottawa for a weeks-long spring session of the House of Commons
Article content
OTTAWA — He has a lot to learn.
That was Prime Minister Mark Carney’s message in his first speech in the House of Commons on Monday, as MPs convened for what will be a very abbreviated spring session.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Carney thanks Canadians, MPs as the House of Commons resumes Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Rising to thunderous applause from both sides of the House, Carney said he’s confident the veteran members of his caucus will help show him the ropes as he adjusts to life as an elected official.
“Mr Speaker, I have much to learn from the members of this great house,” he said.
“I will make mistakes, I have no doubt that you will call them out.”
Carney thanked the voters in his riding of Nepean for electing him to the House — Carney was sworn in as Canada’s 24th Prime Minister on March 14, but it wasn’t until last month’s election that he won a seat.
“I’d like to thank Canadians for the trust they’ve (not only) put in this government, but in all members of this great house,” he said.
Speaking to his caucus on Sunday, Carney told Liberal MPs to prepare for a “very busy” session, which is only slated to run for two weeks.
As Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre failed to win his seat on election night, Conservative MP Andrew Scheer will act as interim Opposition leader in the House.
In his speech Monday, Scheer — who served as House Speaker during the Stephen Harper years — congratulated Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia on his election to the post earlier on Monday.
Recommended video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“You have just taken charge of an office that is almost as old as Parliament itself,” he said in a light-hearted speech that touched on the history of the role, and the grisly fates that met previous speakers in the U.K.
“It may no longer be a requirement to stand up to Kings and Queens, but you may find yourself having to stand up to other offices of authority, and if such a moment presents itself, we trust you’ll stand with those Speakers who came before you, who defended this institutions on behalf of the people.”
King Charles III, who arrived in Ottawa earlier on Monday, will deliver the throne speech in the Senate on Tuesday.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.