Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Canadian provincial legislative officer

Speaker of the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Président de l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario

Incumbent
Donna Skelly

since April 14, 2025

Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Member of| Provincial Parliament
Seat| Queen's Park, Toronto
Formation| December 27, 1867 (1867-12-27)
First holder| John Stevenson
Salary| $208,443 (2025)[1]

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (French: Président de l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario) is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

## Notable elections

[edit]

### 1920

[edit]

Nelson Parliament was a Liberal representing Prince Edward riding, who was named Speaker when the United Farmers of Ontario and Labour Party formed a coalition government in the 15th Legislative Assembly of Ontario. A considerable number of members in the governing party were either freshly elected or chosen to serve as government ministers (which made them ineligible to be Speaker).[2] As a result, the Premier, E.C. Drury, looked to the opposition benches for a Speaker, and chose Parliament, who had served as an MPP since 1914. Upon becoming Speaker, Parliament resigned from the Liberal caucus and sat without party affiliation, as a compromise for his election. While this is the normal practice in the British House of Commons, it is the only time it has happened in Ontario.

### 1977

[edit]

Jack Stokes was the NDP MPP for Lake Nipigon, and was named Speaker by Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis. His election is an example of an instance where a member of an opposing party was elected to the position. Davis was elected to lead a minority government and having an opposition MPP as Speaker was a means of denying the opposition one vote (as the Speaker only votes in the occasion of a tie and then must vote by precedent).

### 1985

[edit]

Liberal Party MPP Hugh Edighoffer (Perth) was named Speaker following the 1985 provincial election that returned a slim minority Progressive Conservative government under Frank Miller. The opposition Liberals and NDP together controlled a majority of seats and so Miller nominated Edighoffer as Speaker, with Liberal leader David Peterson seconding the nomination, and Edighoffer was acclaimed.[3] Days later, the Miller government was brought down by a Motion of Non-Confidence and, as a result of an accord between the Liberals and the NDP, Liberal leader David Peterson was asked to form a government without the legislature being dissolved and a new election. Edighoffer, a Liberal MPP, remained Speaker for the duration of the Peterson government as well.

### 1990

[edit]

NDP MPP David William Warner (Scarborough-Ellesmere) was elected Speaker on the second ballot, in the first election held for the position by secret ballot, as the result of a reform introduced by the newly-elected Ontario New Democratic Party government of Bob Rae. Warner won over Liberals Jean Poirier (Prescott and Russell) and Gilles Morin (Carleton East) and PC MPP Norm Sterling (Carleton).[4][5][6]

### 1996

[edit]

On the seventh ballot, PC MPP Chris Stockwell (Etobicoke West) was elected Speaker, defeating fellow PC MPP Margaret Marland (Mississauga South), who was the preferred choice of Premier Mike Harris.[7] Candidates eliminated in the previous six ballots were PC MPPs David Tilson (Dufferin-Peel) Jack Carroll (Chatham-Kent), Gary Leadston (Kitchener-Wilmot), and Derwyn Shea (High Park—Swansea), NDP MPP Floyd Laughren (Nickel Belt) and Liberal Gilles Morin (Carleton East).[8]

### 2011

[edit]

There were nine candidates for the position of Speaker in the 40th Ontario legislature, held after the 2011 provincial election returned a minority Liberal government. The Liberal candidates were Donna Cansfield, who was supported by Premier Dalton McGuinty,[7] Kevin Flynn, Dave Levac and David Zimmer. A fifth candidate, Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees withdrew after his bid failed to receive sufficient support from either side of the aisle.

David Zimmer dropped off after the first ballot. On the second ballot, Dave Levac was elected Speaker. The actual vote totals were not released.[9]

### 2014

[edit]

Liberal MPP Dave Levac was re-elected to a second term as Speaker at the first session of the 41st Parliament held on July 2, 2014, becoming the first Speaker since Hugh Edighoffer to serve more than one term. Levac defeated NDP MPP Paul Miller and Progressive Conservative Rick Nicholls on the third ballot. NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo was eliminated on the first ballot and Liberal MPP Shafiq Qaadri was eliminated on the second ballot. Actual vote totals were not released.[10]

### 2018

[edit]

PC MPP Ted Arnott was elected as Speaker at the first session of the 42nd Parliament held on July 11, 2018 on the first ballot, defeating Randy Hillier, Jane McKenna and Rick Nicholls. Arnott was one of the three longest serving members of the legislature at the time of election.

### 2022

[edit]

Arnott was re-elected Speaker on August 8, 2022, defeating a challenge by fellow PC MPP Nina Tangri, who had been endorsed by Premier Doug Ford.[7]

### 2025

[edit]

Donna Skelly was elected Speaker on April 14, 2025, defeating Jennifer French. Skelly is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the legislature.

## Election

[edit]

Chamber of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Speaker's dais is in direct center of image in the front of the chamber.

As with other Speakers that are modeled on the Westminster system, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is elected using a secret ballot.[11] Since 1990, the position has been elected by MPPs in this manner. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed directly by the Premier of Ontario after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the third-largest party, and then ratified by the legislature. David Warner was the first Speaker to be elected by his or her peers. This change reflects a similar reform undertaken by the federal House of Commons in 1986.[2]

The Speaker is usually a member of the governing party. The only exceptions have been Jack Stokes, Nelson Parliament and Hugh Edighoffer.

The Speaker is required to perform his or her office impartially,[11] but does not resign from his or her party membership upon taking office.[12] This is identical to the system in place in the federal House of Commons, but stands in contrast to the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.[13] The only Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to have resigned his party affiliation upon election was Nelson Parliament, who was elected in 1920.[14]

## List of speakers of the Legislative Assembly

[edit]

Key:

Ontario Liberal Party

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (and predecessor names)

Ontario New Democratic Party

No.  | Portrait  | Name
Electoral district
(Birth–Death) | Term of office  | Party  | Parliament

|
|
|
|
|

Term start  | Term end
1 |  | John Stevenson
MPP for Lennox
(1812–1884) | December 27,
1867  | December 7,
1871  |  | Conservative | 1st
2 |  | Richard William Scott
MPP for Ottawa
(1825–1913) | December 7,
1871  | December 21,
1871  |  | Liberal | 2nd
3 |  | James Currie
MPP for Welland
(1827–1901) | December 21,
1871  | March 29,
1873
4 |  | Rupert Mearse Wells
MPP for Bruce South
(1835–1902) | January 7,
1874  | January 7,
1880
3rd
5 |  | Charles Clarke[a]
MPP for Wellington Centre
(1826–1909) | January 7,
1880  | February 10,
1887  | 4th
5th
6 |  | Jacob Baxter
MPP for Haldimand
(1832–1912) | February 10,
1887  | February 11,
1891  | 6th
7 |  | Thomas Ballantyne
MPP for Perth South
(1829–1908) | February 11,
1891  | February 21,
1895  | 7th
8 |  | William Balfour
MPP for Essex South
(1851–1896) | February 21,
1895  | July 14,
1896  | 8th
9 |  | Alfred Évanturel
MPP for Prescott
(1846–1908) | February 10,
1897  | March 10,
1903
9th
10 |  | William Andrew Charlton
MPP for Norfolk South
(1841–1930) | March 10,
1903  | March 22,
1905  | 10th
11 |  | Joseph St. John
MPP for York West
(1854–1907) | March 22,
1905  | April 7,
1907  |  | Conservative | 11th
12 |  | Thomas Crawford
MPP for Toronto West
(1847–1932) | April 8,
1907  | February 7,
1912
12th
13 |  | William Hoyle
MPP for Ontario North
(1842–1918) | February 7,
1912  | February 16,
1915  | 13th
14 |  | David Jamieson
MPP for Grey South
(1856–1942) | February 16,
1915  | March 9,
1920  | 14th
15 |  | Nelson Parliament
MPP for Prince Edward
(1877–1967) | March 9,
1920  | February 6,
1924  |  | Independent[b] | 15th
16 |  | Joseph Thompson
MPP for Toronto Northeast
(1867–1941) | February 6,
1924  | February 2,
1927  |  | Conservative | 16th
17 |  | William Black
MPP for Addington
(1867–1944) | February 2,
1927  | February 5,
1930  | 17th
18 |  | Thomas Kidd
MPP for Kingston
(1889–1973) | February 5,
1930  | February 20,
1935  | 18th
19 |  | Norman Hipel
MPP for Waterloo South
(1890–1953) | February 20,
1935  | September 2,
1938  |  | Liberal | 19th
20th
20 |  | James Clark
MPP for Windsor—Sandwich
(1888–1952) | March 8,
1939  | February 22,
1944
21 |  | William James Stewart
MPP for Parkdale
(1889–1969) | February 22,
1944  | March 21,
1947  |  | Progressive Conservative | 21st
22nd
22 |  | James de Congalton Hepburn
MPP for Prince Edward—Lennox
(1878–1955) | March 24,
1947  | February 10,
1949
23 |  | M. C. Davies
MPP for Windsor—Walkerville
(1897–1970) | February 10,
1949  | September 8,
1955  | 23rd
24th
24 |  | Wally Downer
MPP for Dufferin—Simcoe
(1904–1994) | September 8,
1955  | January 26,
1960  | 25th
25 |  | William Murdoch
MPP for Essex South
(1904–1984) | January 26,
1960  | October 29,
1963  | 26th
26 |  | Donald Morrow
MPP for Ottawa West
(1908–1995) | October 29,
1963  | February 14,
1968  | 27th
27 |  | Frederick Cass
MPP for Grenville—Dundas
(1913–2000) | February 14,
1968  | December 13,
1971  | 28th
28 |  | Allan Reuter
MPP for Waterloo South
(1914–1982) | December 13,
1971  | October 22,
1974  | 29th
29 |  | Russell Rowe
MPP for Northumberland
(1914–1994) | October 22,
1974  | October 17,
1977
30th
31st
30 |  | Jack Stokes
MPP for Lake Nipigon
(1923–2000) | October 17,
1977  | April 21,
1981  |  | New Democratic
31 |  | John Melville Turner
MPP for Peterborough
(1922–2013) | April 21,
1981  | June 4,
1985  |  | Progressive Conservative | 32nd
32 |  | Hugh Edighoffer
MPP for Perth
(1928–2019) | June 4,
1985  | November 19,
1990  |  | Liberal | 33rd
34th
33 |  | David William Warner
MPP for Scarborough—Ellesmere
(born 1941) | November 19,
1990  | September 26,
1995  |  | New Democratic | 35th
34 |  | Al McLean
MPP for Simcoe East
(1937–2024) | September 26,
1995  | September 26,
1996  |  | Progressive Conservative | 36th
35 |  | Ed Doyle
MPP for Wentworth East
(born 1935) | September 26,
1996  | October 3,
1996
36 |  | Chris Stockwell
MPP for Etobicoke West
(1957–2018) | October 3,
1996  | October 20,
1999
37 |  | Gary Carr
MPP for Oakville
(born 1955) | October 20,
1999  | November 19,
2003  | 37th
38 |  | Alvin Curling
MPP for Scarborough—Rouge River
(born 1939) | November 19,
2003  | August 19,
2005  |  | Liberal | 38th
39 |  | Michael A. Brown
MPP for Algoma—Manitoulin
(born 1950) | October 11,
2005  | November 28,
2007
40 |  | Steve Peters
MPP for Elgin—Middlesex—London
(born 1963) | November 28,
2007  | November 21,
2011  | 39th
41 |  | Dave Levac
MPP for Brant
(born 1954) | November 21,
2011  | May 8,
2018  | 40th
41st
42 |  | Ted Arnott
MPP for Wellington—Halton Hills
(born 1963) | July 11,
2018  | April 14, 2025  |  | Progressive Conservative | 42nd
43rd
43 |  | Donna Skelly
MPP for Flamborough—Glanbrook
(born 1961) | April 14, 2025  | Incumbent  | 44th

1. ^ Charles Clarke was also Clerk of the Assembly from 1892-1907, being the only Member to serve as both Speaker and Clerk.
2. ^ Nelson Parliament was a member of the Liberal Party, however the Liberals sat in the opposition in the 15th Parliament. As no one in the governing coalition had experience in the Legislature, Parliament was selected from the Opposition to become Speaker by the Premier; he subsequently resigned his party membership and sat as an independent.

## List of current presiding officers

[edit]

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is assisted by four other MPPs who are, along with the Speaker, collectively known as the presiding officers.[15][16] Standing Order 2 of the Legislative Assembly requires that up to three of the five presiding officers hail from the Official Opposition.[16] In the 43rd Parliament, however, the tradition of appointing three Official Opposition presiding officers was broken when three members from the governing Progressive Conservatives were appointed: Ted Arnott by secret ballot, and Donna Skelly and Patrice Barnes by the Government House Leader Paul Calandra, despite the fact that the Official Opposition NDP had put forward Jill Andrew and Jennifer French—in addition to eventual presiding officer Bhutila Karpoche—as appointees. Calandra dismissed Andrew's and French's appointments and selected Karpoche, Barnes and Lucille Collard from the Liberals, despite the Liberals not holding official party status in the Legislature. Skelly's appointment to the Deputy Speaker position was also unusual in that the role was traditionally given to the runner-up of the Speaker's election, which Skelly did not contend in (the true runner-up was Nina Tangri, who was Arnott's only challenger).

The Deputy Speaker is first in line to take the Chair in the absence of the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker is also ex officio the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House. The next three presiding officers are entitled deputy chairs of the Committee of the Whole House.

As with the Speaker, the other presiding officers are required to remain impartial in the Chair, but are not required to resign from their political party. They may participate in debate and vote as with any other member, when not in the Chair.[17]

Title  | Incumbent[18] | Party[15]

|
|

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | Donna Skelly | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole House | Effie Triantafilopoulos | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
First Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House | Jennifer French | New Democratic Party of Ontario
Second Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House | Ric Bresee | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Third Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House | Andrea Hazell | Ontario Liberal Party

## Residence

[edit]

The Speaker once had both reception space and an apartment within the Ontario Legislative Building. After the closure of Chorley Park in 1937, the reception space was transferred over to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, as a non-residential vice regal suite. The Speaker maintains a residence at the Legislature, known as the Speaker's Apartment.

## See also

[edit]

* Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ontario MPPs getting 35% raise after 16-year freeze, new pension plan". CityNews. May 29, 2025.
2. ^ a b brenthollandshow (2014-10-17), Peter Miliken Speaker Of The House Canada Parliament Ottawa Brent Holland Show, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-07-16
3. ^ "Hansard Transcripts 1985-Jun-04 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario".
4. ^ Hall, Chris (November 18, 1990). "3 area MPPs after Speaker's job in legislature's first free vote; Toronto New Democrat is fourth entry in race". The Ottawa Citizen. p. D2.
5. ^ "Elected speaker promises to keep MPPs 'thoughtful'". The Windsor Star. November 20, 1990. p. A2.
6. ^ "Hansard Transcripts 1990-Nov-19 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario".
7. ^ a b c "MPPs defy Doug Ford, re-elect Ted Arnott as speaker of the Ontario Legislature". Toronto Star. August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
8. ^ "Hansard Transcripts 1996-Oct-03 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario".
9. ^ Howlett, Karen (November 21, 2011). "Dave Levac elected Ontario Speaker". Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
10. ^ "Levac re-elected Speaker". Belleville Expositor. July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
11. ^ a b "Role of the Speaker | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
12. ^ "Current MPPs". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
13. ^ "Office and Role of Speaker". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
14. ^ Ontario. Legislative Library; Dale, Clare A. (1992). "Whose servant I am" : speakers of the assemblies of the province of Upper Canada, Canada and Ontario, 1792-1992. Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Toronto : Ontario Legislative Library.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
15. ^ a b "The Speaker". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
16. ^ a b "Standing orders | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
17. ^ "Presiding officers and Clerks | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
18. ^ "The Speaker | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2025-04-25.

## External links

[edit]

* The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from the Ontario Legislative Assembly website. Biography of the current speaker and a history of the office.
* List of past speakers.

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