Impartial But Not Non-Partisan: Re-Examining the Mythology of the Speakership‪.‬

Dale Lovick is the Speaker of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. This is a revised version of a paper he presented at the 20th Seminar of the Canadian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held in Fredericton on October 25-27, 1996. It is generally agreed among students of Parliament that the Speakership is the most important safeguard to the effective working of the institution. There is less agreement, however, as to whether a Speaker must renounce all political ties in order to fulfil his or her duty as an impartial arbiter. This article outlines some arguments on both sides of the issue and concludes that while impartiality in the Chair is essential, complete renunciation of all political affiliation is unrealistic in Canada.