Chris Collins elected Speaker of Legislature

Liberal Chris Collins of Moncton Centre was elected Speaker of the Legislature by his fellow MLAs on Friday.

The result was not unexpected as Premier Brian Gallant indicated when his cabinet was sworn in that the Liberals would be putting forward Collins as their choice for the person to take on the role.  

The Progressive Conservatives put forward Ted Fleming's name as a candidate for Speaker.

The vote was done by secret ballot but the results were not announced.

Once Collins was elected, Premier Brian Gallant and Opposition Leader Bruce Fitch performed the custom of dragging the newly-elected Speaker to his chair.

Collins told the MLAs that he was "honoured and deeply humbled" to be elected Speaker.

“The role of Speaker is critical to the operation of this legislature and to ensuring we can all work productively for the people who elected us," Collins said.

"I promise to do my best over the coming sessions to uphold the traditions of this office and the good functioning of this chamber.”

The Speaker is to act impartially in handling the affairs of the legislative assembly.

Collins was first elected in 2007 and was re-elected in 2010. He has served as the critic for the education, post-secondary education training and labour, environment energy and justice portfolios.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is the head of the office of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker also chairs the the legislative administration committee and oversees administration of the House.

Friday was historic in another sense as Green Party Leader David Coon was sworn in as the MLA for Fredericton South, becoming New Brunswick's first Green MLA.