Liberal MP Geoff Regan says being Speaker won't distract from riding role

Halifax West MP Geoff Regan says his new job as Speaker of the House of Commons won't distract from representing his riding.

'Yes, it's a busy job.There's lots that I'm going to have to work on, but my key responsibility to my constituents remains,Regantold CBCMainstreeton the phone from OttawaFriday.

"One thing about the Speaker is he or she has the weight of the fact that they've been elected by all the members of the House."

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Regan, a Liberal,was first elected to representHalifax West 22 years ago in 1993.

He's since served as fisheries and oceans minister, parliamentary secretary to the government house leader and the regional minister for Nova Scotia. In that latest role, he helped negotiate the 2005 Offshore Accord.

"I'm excited about the fact that the first time in nearly 100years a NovaScotianis the Speaker of the House," he said.

The last Atlantic Canadianspeaker, Edgar Nelson Rhodes, was from Amherst, N.S., and appointed to the role in 1917.

Regan noted that, as Speaker, he'll have unique access to major political players.

He's already metwith the party leaders, and going forward, "as speaker, I have the opportunity to speak privately to ministers and to the prime minister," Regan said.

Congratulations poured in from around the region Thursday, including to celebrate his wedding anniversary with Nova ScotiaMinister of Labour and Advanced Education Kelly Regan.