ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Liberal MHA Scott Reid has been elected Speaker of the House of Assembly.
The vote between Reid, who represents St. George’s-Humber, and former Speaker Perry Trimper, who represents Lake Melville for the Liberals, was held Monday afternoon on the first day of the fall sitting of the House of Assembly.
The Speaker maintains order in the House during debate, ruling on points of order, and performs other ceremonial duties. The role comes with a $48,8665 pay raise on top of the $93,000 base salary for members of the House of Assembly.
The vote was a secret ballot, so the vote count is not known.
It’s the second time Reid has vied for the prestigious role, having lost his first bid to Tom Osborne in 2016. At the time, it was the first election for Speaker in the province’s history. Reid’s victory today is the third time the Speaker’s chair was contested in the province’s history.
Trimper had been Speaker prior to today’s election, but was called to cabinet after May’s provincial election as minister for Municipal Affairs and Environment. After less than a week in the role, Trimper resigned from cabinet after accidentally leaving a voice mail for an Innu Nation member, during which Trimper is heard in conversation with an unidentified woman accusing the Innu of playing the “race card” in advocating for translation services for people taking driving tests.
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