1st Black Canadian House Speaker kicks off parliament with joke: “Please treat me like that new car”

Newly-elected House Speaker Greg Fergus kicked off Tuesday’s question period with a joke, after being voted in to take on the Speaker role of Canada’s parliament earlier that day. “Colleagues, before we begin my first question period, please treat me like that new car. Don’t give it a dent on the first day,” Fergus said, which was met with laughter and applause. The 54-year-old Quebec Liberal MP became the first Black Canadian to serve as Speaker and is tasked with restoring confidence in the chamber. After MPs elected him to the role by secret ballot, he promised them that he would lead with respect and encouraged them to respect each other, too. The rare mid-session election was held to replace Anthony Rota, who caused an international uproar last month by accidentally honouring a man who fought with a Nazi unit in the second war during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the House of Commons. For more info, please go to Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: Like Global News on Facebook HERE: Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: #GlobalNews #Canada #FergusBlack