Greg Fergus, a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), has been elected as the new Speaker of the House of Commons in Canada, making history as the first black man to hold this esteemed

position. His election follows the resignation of the former Speaker, Anthony Rota, who stepped down amidst controversy surrounding the invitation of a Ukrainian man with Nazi affiliations to the parliament.

Fergus was chosen through a secret ballot by the 338-member House on Tuesday, a moment he described as "a great honour." In his inaugural address, he called upon his colleagues to engage in respectful debates within the House, emphasizing that politics should be a noble profession.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lauded Fergus's election, noting its potential to inspire younger generations interested in politics. Although Fergus is the first black man to hold the role of Speaker, Jean Augustine previously made history as the first black woman elected as an MP in 1993, later serving as deputy speaker.

Aside from his parliamentary duties, the 54-year-old Fergus has served as the parliamentary secretary to the Treasury Board president and the health minister. He has a diverse background, having worked as a House of Commons page during his college years.

Fergus's primary responsibility as Speaker will be to restore the Chamber's reputation, as stated by the leader of the New Democrats, Jagmeet Singh. This task comes in light of the standing ovation given to Yaroslav Hunka, a World War Two veteran associated with the 14th Waffen-SS Grenadier Division, a unit composed mainly of ethnic Ukrainians under Nazi command, during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The incident, which occurred on September 22, garnered widespread international condemnation, and Prime Minister Trudeau publicly apologized for it, acknowledging that it deeply embarrassed the parliament and Canada as a whole. Photo by Hutima, Wikimedia commons.