GLOW UP — There’s been a 180-degree vibe flip in the House thanks to GREG FERGUS. The Liberal MP and former parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU made history Tuesday, elected by his peers to be Canada’s first Black speaker. “The words that we use matter. Symbols matter,†Fergus said, reflecting on the Nazi controversy that sank MPs’ faith in his predecessor, eventually forcing ANTHONY ROTA’s resignation from the speaker's chair. Rota was not in the chamber for the speeches or vote. Fergus’ son was in the gallery for his dad’s speech and when results were announced. — Scenes from above: Playbook peered from the gallery at the goings-on in an unusual mid-session speaker’s election. Government House Leader KARINA GOULD was the only person wearing a mask in government benches. Conservative MP LAILA GOODRIDGE had baby AODHAN in her arms in the chamber. A scene of broken telephone played out at one point during speeches when Gould passed a message through MÉLANIE JOLY, who leaned into DIANE LEBOUTHILLIER’s ear, who whispered it to STEVEN GUILBEAULT, who got SEAN FRASER involved to ultimately deliver the House leader’s word to RANDY BOISSONNAULT. Fergus’ staff, seated in the gallery at the far end of the chamber, high-fived each other when they heard their boss’ name. They had seats in the speaker’s gallery by question period. — One in, one out: Rota returns to Liberal caucus in a third-row seat in the House behind Small Business Minister RECHIE VALDEZ. Liberal MP BRYAN MAY filled Rota’s seat on election day. — New speaker, old problems: Task No. 1, Fergus promised, is to work “night and day†to promote and advance respect in the House. Watching question period has been a tall task for most viewers in recent years. These days, the infotainment digest mostly attracts lobbyists monitoring for client mentions and political staffers watching for grist to fuel social media. The candidates who ran against Fergus listed the ways they think the House is broken — and also the reasons it endures in an era of hyper-partisan politics. → Liberal MP SEAN CASEY told the House the level of respect for Parliament and the speaker “has taken an incredible beating†this session. → Conservative MP (and deputy speaker) CHRIS D'ENTREMONT identified “friendship and relationships†as the most important commodity in the House. → Liberal MP ALEXANDRA MENDÈS (and assistant deputy speaker) pointed to emergency and take-note debates, private members’ bills and motions as sources of the “most meaningful hours†she’s experienced in the House. → Liberal MP PETER SCHIEFKE notably did not read from a paper held in his hands while he vowed to make “rebuilding trust†that Canadians have in the House, and with world allies, his top priority. → NDP MP CAROL HUGHES (and assistant deputy speaker) warned: “The erosion of public respect for Parliament is real.†→ Green Party Co-Leader ELIZABETH MAY lectured her peers on the practice of speakers getting speaking lists from party whips as an “abomination.†— Partisan potshots: Fergus was elected after a weekend blitz of attacks from Conservative insider JENNI BYRNE, Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE’s DComm SARAH FISCHER and MPs MICHELLE FERRERI and RACHAEL THOMAS targeting his role in “Elbowgate.†His ethics violation from earlier this year was also raised by critics as a point of offense. So was his link with The Center as parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, a role he held from March 2021 until 16 days ago. Yet, at the end of Fergus’ first question period, he earned applause from Poilievre who stood in his seat and mouthed, “Not bad.†— What’s next: With the speaker election done, Conservatives will bring attention back to their opposition motion to repeal the carbon tax. The motion, which slags the Bloc, NDP and “Atlantic Liberal members,†is unlikely to pass when it comes up for a vote this afternoon. More grist for the political mill. MEANWHILE IN AMERICA — In another “first,†the U.S. House deposed KEVIN MCCARTHY as its speaker after Democrats joined MATT GAETZ’s bid to oust him. At the top of POLITICO this hour: The rudderless GOP careens toward 2024. | 
