Rookie Winnipeg Centre MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette has withdrawn his application to become Speaker of the House after making controversial comments about the power of the position.
“With heavy heart, I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the Speaker of the House of Commons,” Ouellette wrote in a Facebook post.
At a town hall with constituents on Saturday, Ouellette said he could influence Prime Minister Justin Trudeau if he is elected Speaker of the House of Commons instead of remaining one of many Liberal backbenchers.
"I've talked to other Speakers who have been in the position before," Ouellette said in the speech.
"They said, actually, it's a position of great influence, because if I have an issue in my riding where I need some funds, or I need something to happen ... I would call over the prime minister to my chair," he continued.
In the Facebook post, Ouellette said he never meant to imply any untoward deal-making, just that the Speaker can still bring constituents’ concerns to the government’s attention.
Nonetheless, Ouellette apologized for the impression his words made.
“Mistakes have consequences, and I accept them. I apologize unreservedly to the House and my fellow parliamentarians and withdraw my name from consideration,” he said in the Facebook post.
Ouellette, who beat long-time NDP MP Pat Martin in last month’s federal election, had spoken openly about his ambition to win the Speaker’s chair, despite never holding government office before.
Read Ouellette's full statement here:
Statement by Robert-Falcon Ouellette:With heavy heart, I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the Speaker of...
Posted by Robert-Falcon Ouellette on Sunday, November 29, 2015
- with files from The Canadian Press
