PC caucus chooses Driedger as Speaker

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This article was published 16/05/2016 (3434 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tory MLA Myrna Driedger has been elected the Speaker of the House for the Manitoba Legislature.

The veteran Charleswood MLA beat the NDP’s Mohinder Saran (The Maples) in a secret ballot Monday morning.

Driedger likely had the overwhelming support of the Progressive Conservative’s 40-member caucus in the vote by Manitoba’s 57 MLAs.

The election of Speaker was the first item of business in the new legislative session that begins on Monday.

This makes Driedger, who has been an MLA since 1998, the fourth woman to hold the position in Manitoba.

The position comes with a spacious office and a $143,955 annual salary, akin to a cabinet minister.

The Speaker is charged with maintaining order and decorum in the house and enforcing its rules.

By the afternoon, ceremonies surrounding the opening of the legislature will begin, with Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon reading the throne speech at 1:30 p.m.

Prior to that, Lt.-Gov. Filmon will leave Government House at 1 p.m. and, upon her arrival at the front stairs of the Legislative Building, will receive full military honours.