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Repeated complaints about incivility in the House of Commons did not prevent the return of Peter Milliken to the Speaker's chair that he has occupied for the past seven years.

MPs re-elected the 62-year-old Liberal MP in the fifth round of secret voting Tuesday after the strongest challenge mounted against him in recent years.

“It's a pleasure to be back here,” he told politicians after his job was secured.

“I hope that we can arrange to make the chamber more orderly, and I know that the new members will urge their noisier colleagues to tone things down so that we can have a quieter and more productive chamber.”

Later, on CTV's Mike Duffy Live, Mr. Milliken said some rules may have to change to make his job easier. He did not specify which ones.

The first test of his ability to reduce the nastiness that marked the last session of Parliament – and those that preceded it – will come this week.

The House gets back to normal business Thursday after a Throne Speech Wednesday that is expected to be heavy on economic policy and light on matters that will rankle the opposition. It is also anticipated to be comparatively brief as it lays out a framework for dealing with the financial crisis.

Mr. Milliken, the MP for Kingston and the Islands, is generally regarded by all parties as fair and even-handed in his rulings and is intensely well versed in parliamentary procedure.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told him after the vote results were known, “Your re-election is an affirmation of the confidence your colleagues have in your abilities.”

Still, Mr. Milliken's tenure has seen an increasing number of insults, name-calling, interruptions and refusals to answer direct questions.

There had been no strong challenger for the job of Speaker in recent years. But the raucous and unproductive debates of the previous session prompted six contenders to join the race: Conservatives Merv Tweed, Andrew Scheer, Barry Devolin and Royal Galipeau; New Democrat Joe Comartin; and Mauril Bélanger from Mr. Milliken's own Liberal caucus.

All of them promised to bring more decorum to the House.

Mr. Scheer, who along with Mr. Tweed was one of the final two to drop off the ballot, said he would work quickly to restore order.

“I would try to establish early on some indications of zero tolerance, so to speak, when people cross the line to help them in the future,” he said during the five minutes he was permitted to address Parliament before the vote.

Others, including Mr. Milliken, said the blame must be shared by all members.

“I agree that decorum has gone down somewhat, but I do not believe that is uncommon in a minority Parliament, because there is a lot of competition going on in the House,” he said.

“Without the goodwill and express support of members on all sides, it is very difficult for a person occupying the chair to in fact impose order. In my view, no amount of interference or chastisement of members will impose order that does not exist, unless the members wish to have order in the House.”

The job of Speaker is not always easy, especially in a minority Parliament where even minor rulings can have a major impact.

In addition to controlling the debate, the Speaker administers the day-to-day business on the Hill, including security, and must entertain a constant stream of visiting dignitaries.

But there are also perks, including more money, a country home, a hospitality budget, an apartment in the Centre Block, and a car and driver.

Mr. Milliken said he believes his previous time in the Speaker's chair will serve him well through the economic debates to come.

“In my view in a minority House there are certain circumstances that require expertise, not merely experience,” he said, “and I think it is important to have these two reflected in the choice of Speaker.”