Interim NDP Leader Don Davies says his party is open to taking on the Speaker of the House position in exchange for resources, but insists the scenario is “hypothetical” and no such discussion has taken place with the Liberals.
“I think you have to be fluid. You have to be open. We haven’t had that proposal put to us, so I can’t say that we’ve given any consideration to it,” Davies said in a year-end interview with CTV Question Period airing Sunday when asked about the possibility.
“But any opportunity for New Democrats to meaningfully participate in this Parliament to make it work and function there, I think we’d be prepared to look at.”
Following this year’s federal election, the NDP were reduced to just seven seats and lost official party status, which has a 12-seat threshold. By losing that status, the party has fewer resources and has no guaranteed seats on House of Commons standing committees.
The Liberals, meanwhile, are now just one seat short of a majority after Ontario MP Michael Ma crossed the floor from the Conservatives on Thursday.
Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, though, currently holds the role of Speaker of the House and only votes in the event of a tie.
If the Liberals were to relinquish that role, they would have a guaranteed 171 votes, effectively giving them a majority.
While speaking to host Vassy Kapelos, Davies acknowledged the door has closed on the push for official party status, but he is still advocating for additional resources.
“What we’ve been advocating for is resources for all the party caucuses, because we think that in a minority Parliament, all the caucuses need to be reliable partners and be able to participate meaningfully in the debate and discussion,” Davies said.
When asked what the NDP is willing to provide to the Liberals in exchange for additional resources, Davies said “we’re not looking to enter into a transaction” but looking to “make Parliament work better.”
Davies also said the NDP wouldn’t make “any promises to the Liberals or anybody else.”
“We’ll support legislation that we believe is right and we’ll oppose legislation that we think is wrong,” Davies told Kapelos, later adding that the NDP have been effective during the fall session.
Pressed by Kapelos on what evidence he has to highlight the NDP’s success, Davies argued his party has helped drive political debate in the House of Commons.
“Sometimes it’s not about whether you get legislation passed … it’s whether or not you are bringing political focus to government actions that will maybe act to restrain them. I would say that the New Democrats have done that,” Davies added.
Despite the Liberals’ assertion of a “productive” fall sitting, several key bills have been left in limbo, including key crime legislation, as well as Bill C-15, the Budget Implementation Act.
The House of Commons is set to return on Jan. 26.
You can watch interim NDP Leader Don Davies’ full interview on CTV Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
With files from CTV News’ Rachel Aiello
