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Geoff Regan elected speaker of Canada's House of Commons

Xinhua, December 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Geoff Regan was elected speaker of House of Commons of Canada Thursday at the opening of a new Canadian parliament following the Oct. 19 general elections that saw the Liberals win a majority government.

Members of parliament each cast a secret ballot on Thursday, ranking the candidates by order of preference in their first act of the new parliament.

Three other candidates were vying for the position -- Liberals Denis Paradis and Yasmin Ratansi, as well as Conservative Bruce Stanton.

In his acceptance speech, Regan said he was honored to be the first member of parliament from Atlantic Canada in nearly 100 years to be elected as Speaker.

Regan, who has served as a backbench member of parliament, a minister and opposition critic during his 18 years in the Canadian parliament, said all the various jobs prepared him for his new role.

"I've sat in all corners of this house and I think that will help me to appreciate the different perspectives of all members, on all sides."

"I've heard from so many of you, and of your desire for a better atmosphere in this place, for greater respect to be shown among members of parliament on all sides," Regan said.

The election of the speaker came a day ahead of the government's first throne speech, to be delivered by Governor General David Johnston on Friday. Endi