July 2, 2026
Get an inside look at some changes to the traditional Speaker's attire.
Video transcript
Duration: 5:55
Amanda Cupido: Ontario's parliamentary fashion is rooted in Britain's Westminster parliamentary tradition, but what those traditions did not take into account is what would happen if a woman became the Speaker of the House. In April 2025, Ontario's Legislature selected Donna Skelly as the province's first female Speaker.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I am so honoured and I feel so privileged that you put your trust in me.
Amanda Cupido: And since then, she's been shaking things up.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Well, I would say some of my colleagues say it's drinking from a fire hose, but we definitely hit the ground running. We've made a lot of changes in less than a year. Most people are embracing it. It's brought a different perspective to the building and to the role of Speaker. And I'm not going to stop.
Amanda Cupido: She's revitalized the Amethyst Room, gotten more art on display, and launched the Speaker's Series that lifts different voices from across Ontario. But one of the most historic changes has been to the Speaker's uniform. She went from wearing the classic robe to a tailored suit modeled after the 17th century outfit of the Scottish prince, Charles Edward Stewart.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): It's such an honour to be able to wear it, and I feel different in it as well. I feel very proud that I'm able to, as the first woman, be able to wear this particular jacket and outfit. We can't shy away from asking for minor adjustments simply because we're women. We aren't men. Our bodies are different, we work differently.And these were just minor, but they made such a difference in the way I feel and the way I'm able to do my job.
Amanda Cupido: She explains that this stems from her background in journalism, where what she wore as a news anchor acted as a tool for credibility and professionalism.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Your style was always a priority throughout my career, and I think that's carried on into this job. I mean, you are in many ways representing the province, and I think it's important to respect that and also embrace it and allow people to be proud of the person who is representing their province, but also this Assembly. So I take it fairly seriously. And that's one of the reasons why I wanted to work Shafiq to ensure that we had something that was fitting of the role of Speaker.
Hello. Come on in.
Amanda Cupido: Shafiq Beig is the head tailor at Harcourts, which is the official uniform supplier for all the provincial parliaments across Canada. He's been working there since 1989.
Shafiq Beig: I just take the measurements and then I make sure that they don't feel that they have a uniform on their shoulder. They should be happy to wear those items. I made, quietly, several changes in several other uniform but she has the courage to speak out because she is the first female Speaker to talk about why a female cannot have a proper uniform designed for her.
Amanda Cupido: So Shafiq got to work. He dug into the archives and pulled inspiration from all different places, including the back of his warehouse.
Shafiq Beig: I had a sample hidden somewhere which was called Bonnie Prince Charlie Jacket. It was a very old jacket, collecting dust. So I cleaned it. And I said "Would you be interested if I create something similar to this?" And she said, "This is what I'm looking for. It is not huge, it's not bulky." So I have feminized the whole jacket. But then I see this moment of history being created.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): It's so beautiful. It is such a beautiful, beautiful jacket. And Shafiq and I designed the pants.
We went through magazines and looked at some, some ideas, got some ideas. And so you'll see the pant has bit of a flare and a slit out the back. And we're going to have one and two buttons.
Amanda Cupido: But putting a slit in pants is not as easy as it seems.
Shafiq Beig: I thought, I'm going to destroy the garment. If I cut it at the bottom, if she doesn't like it, then I have to redo the whole thing. So I played very cleverly. I did not cut the slit. I hemmed the trousers and asked her to put it on, she tried it on, then I took a pair of scissors and slit it. How much do you want it? And exactly, I got the height of her heel and the way she wanted it to be.
So you have to be very clever to be an artist. Not simply a skilled person. It was, every bit of it, I love it. I was nervous, but I got over this nervousness because I never feel defeated. First time in my life, I said, I'm afraid because I go by the book. Life is so easy. You turn the pages, take their specification and follow it, and nobody objected any time.
Amanda Cupido: The book he's talking about is a style guide from 1920 that outlines all the measurements and rules for the Westminster Parliamentary Dress Code. It covers all ceremonial uniforms for the Commonwealth countries, and he's been following it for decades. Needless to say, none of this was in the book.
Shafiq Beig: I am the person who go by the book for my entire life, but it's the time to rewrite the book. Rewrite another chapter.
Amanda Cupido: Shafiq highlights some of the notable elements in the new uniform, including the pure wool, the crispy trim,
and the defined lines.
Shafiq Beig: Every stitch you can see the love of an artist. This is my reputation. I work for this day for my entire life. I cannot fail. So finally, I was able to put togther...I brought some new trimmings and I have to drop some old trimmings, but it turned out one of the most beautiful pieces of art.
Amanda Cupido: For the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I'm Amanda Cupido.
Learn more
Read more about the role of the Speaker.
Learn more about parliamentary roles.
View the parliamentary fashion on tricorn hats and robes video (opens another site).