BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1510 West

For seven terms as a member of the House of Commons for the riding of Lac-Saint-Louis, Francis Scarpaleggia has toiled on the back benches of Parliament, working on a variety of committees and – perhaps what he was best known for – attending a countless number of events in his West Island riding.

But since the opening of the new session of Parliament last month, he has taken on his highest-profile job as an elected official – Speaker of the House.

It’s a position that comes with national attention and a hefty $99,900 raise, bringing his annual salary to just under $310,000. It also comes with a huge responsibility: attempting to keep the level of political discourse in the country’s premier chamber of government above the level of a schoolyard brawl, complete with its unique brand of juvenile catcalls and made-for-social-media taunts.

“It’s a fine line between maintaining civility and allowing people to express themselves,” said Scarpaleggia in an interview with The 1510 West last week.

The veteran MP is counting on his knowledge of the workings of the House of Commons and his personal style to temper debate and engender a forum to facilitate a level of debate that meets the moment.

Scarpaleggia is looking forward to his new role.

“For me, it’s a new challenge and an opportunity to draw on my 20 years of experience and apply it in a new context,” he said.

But his duties during Question Period in the House is just part of his job as Speaker, he said.

“It’s really the tip of the iceberg,” he said, pointing the lesser known duties of taking over management of the Parliamentary precinct, the full scope of the workings of the parliamentary campus, including the security service, the administration of its budget as well as the Speaker’s diplomatic role in welcoming visitors and foreign dignitaries.

But what will all of this mean for his constituents in his riding?

“My role in assisting and supporting my constituents does not change at all,” he said.

His advocacy on behalf of the residents of Lac-Saint-Louis riding – which includes Pointe Claire, Beaconsfield, Baie d’Urfé, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Senneville, Kirkland and a small section of western Pierrefonds-Roxboro – will continue, explaining his riding office receives many inquiries for help with issues of immigration, interactions with the Canada Revenue Agency and registration with the new national dental benefits plan.

As for the perks of the new job, which include an official residence in the Capital Region, as of last week Scarpaleggia had not even gotten around to visiting the site known as The Farm, a 4.3-acre estate near the shores of Kingsmere Lake in Gatineau Park, across the river from Ottawa. The property became the residence of the Speaker of the House in 1955. It was at one time owned by former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, who used it as a summer home. King left the property upon his death to the government and people of Canada.

Scarpaleggia said he is not sure whether he will use the residence.

“I’m not one for pomp and circumstance,” he said, explaining that when in Ottawa he usually stays in hotels when not commuting home to the West Island.