A show of non-partisanship can seem rare in the House of Commons, but that’s what happened Thursday when members from each party joined in a chorus of praise for Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton.
The five-term Conservative MP, who is deputy speaker of the House, announced a year ago he would not be seeking re-election. When the next election will take place is not known, so fellow MPs took the opportunity after Thursday’s Question Period to pay tribute to Stanton.
He wasn’t expecting it.
Speaker of the House Anthony Rota, a Liberal MP, had asked Stanton to show up early Thursday “to cover for” him.
“Since I became speaker in December 2019, I have had the remarkable good fortune to have by my side the deputy speaker, member for Simcoe North,” Rota said, adding he was the third speaker to “rely on (Stanton’s) sage advice, his firm hand and his unceasing commitment to Parliament.”
He passed the chair duties to a surprised Stanton, who called on members who wanted to speak. The first was his boss, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole.
“Most importantly, every time you sat in that chair, you brought the level of decorum and debate in this House to a higher level. You presided with unmatched dignity, fairness and professionalism,” O’Toole said.
Speakers refer to other members as honourable, he added, “but few deserve that title as much as you, Mr. Speaker.”
After O’Toole was elected in a byelection and gave his first speech in the House, he received a note from Stanton congratulating him on his speech and delivery.
“I keep that note to this day because it embodies the professionalism and the high ethical standard you hold yourself and this House to,” he said.
Stanton told OrilliaMatters on Friday he makes a point of sending such letters to members, especially newer ones, when they deliver a speech that is “compelling and well informed.”
“They don’t often get a lot of feedback, so it’s an encouragement to them when they’ve done something well,” he said.
Next in line to laud Stanton’s work was Alain Therrien, the Bloc Québécois MP for La Prairie.
“I cannot quarrel with you,” he told Stanton. “You and the other deputy speaker are wonderful. We’re always happy to see you. It’s an honour to serve beside you.”
He also complimented Stanton for his grasp of Canada’s second language — “the beautiful French language that you master with a slight accent that (is) even warmer.”
“That’s a real compliment because I’ve put a lot of work into it,” Stanton said Friday. “It’s not an easy thing to do, especially at my age.”
Former speaker Geoff Regan, the Liberal MP for Halifax West, seemed somewhat emotional as he thanked Stanton for his “wise counsel,” saying he has “demonstrated grace, professionalism and courage.”
Stanton thanked Regan with a quavering voice.
“I was obviously very moved by Geoff’s brief words,” he said the next day, referring to Regan as a good friend. “When you are the subject of all these wonderful salutes and tributes, you can’t help but be emotional.”
It somewhat disproved a claim by Peter Julian, the NDP MP for New Westminster-Burnaby, that Stanton was “unflappable.”
“I’m human, too,” Stanton said with a laugh.
Julian had perhaps the highest praise for Stanton.
“You’re the embodiment of a fine parliamentarian and, because you show such respect to every member of Parliament regardless of the circumstances, I think it helps us show more respect to each other,” he said.
The Simcoe North MP approaches his deputy speaker role with what Julian refers to as “the Stanton rules.”
“First off, you understand the rules as good as anyone in the House of Commons, and that gives us all confidence,” he said.
Stanton then proved Julian’s point when he said, “All I can think of is that this is taking time away from the day’s business here.”
That generated laughter from his colleagues, but “it was true,” Stanton said.
“You’ve always got to be cognizant of the time it takes to do these things. It’s the members’ time,” he said.
Finally, the House heard from Green Leader Elizabeth May, who said it was an “emotional moment” for her.
“You will be missed. I will miss, very much, working with you,” she said. “I will come visit in Simcoe North because you have a beautiful, beautiful riding and I love visiting.”
The shout-out to Simcoe North was appreciated by Stanton.
“She’s the one member, in her thank-yous, to talk about this riding,” he said. “She’s a wonderful person. The way you saw her on camera is just the way she is in person. She is genuine to the core.”
When Stanton’s term is up, he will have left his mark on the House of Commons. June 6 will mark his 10th year as a chair occupant. He began as an assistant deputy speaker in 2011. He held that position for four years and was then appointed deputy speaker. He was appointed again in 2019.
In a few weeks, he will become the longest-serving deputy speaker in House of Commons history.
Stanton has found his chair occupant roles to be a good fit for his approach to politics.
“It’s what seemed to be kind of in my wheelhouse. I’m not an overt partisan,” he said, adding, over the years, he accepted the fact a ministerial position was “not in the offing” for him. “I love this work. It suits me.”
Thursday’s tributes were a reminder of what he’ll miss when he exits politics.
“As I finish my term, I’m really going to miss a lot of the friends I’ve made in the House of Commons,” he said. “It’s a part of my life that will always be with me. It’s been nothing but a privilege.”
Video of Thursday’s Question Period can be found here. The tributes to Stanton start about 15 minutes in.
