The House sits too often for the Speaker to preside over all the proceedings each day. To fulfill the role when the Speaker can’t be in the Chamber, the MPPs elect from among themselves several deputy presiding officers.

Currently, the Legislature has four deputies. Each of these deputies has all of the procedural authority of the Speaker when they are acting in the Speaker’s place.  

Deputy Speaker, Donna Skelly, MPP

Donna Skelly has been an MPP since 2018 and represents the riding of Flamborough—Glanbrook. She was appointed as Deputy Speaker in 2022.

First Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, Bhutila Karpoche, MPP

Bhutila Karpoche has been an MPP since 2018 and represents the riding of Parkdale—High Park. She was appointed as First Deputy Chair in 2022.

Second Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, Patrice Barnes, MPP

Patrice Barnes has been an MPP since 2022 and represents the riding of Ajax. She was appointed as Second Deputy Chair in 2022.

Third Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, Lucille Collard , MPP

Lucille Collard has been an MPP since 2020 and represents the riding of Ottawa—Vanier. She was appointed as Third Deputy Chair in 2022.

Table officers

In front of the Speaker’s chair in the Chamber is a table, called the Clerk’s table, or just the Table. The people who sit there are table officers: experts in parliamentary procedure. They provide non-partisan, confidential advice to the Speaker and all MPPs.