Some of the Parliament perks that come with the Speaker of the House job

Any job where you spend your time trying to find order amid chaos should come with a few perks, and the Speaker of the House of Commons is no exception.

Former Conservative MP Garth Turner once described debates in the Commons as a "model of disorderly conduct - not just for the name-calling, but also for the excessive partisanship, the lack of credible debate and the my-way-or-the-highway approach to politics."

So, here' s what you get if you win the support of Parliament to be Speaker and take charge over the vocation so aptly described by Turner:

- a base salary of $157,731, the same as all MPs but that's topped up with an additional $75,516 for accepting the 'neutral' position.

- the Speaker gets a car and a driver

- a luxurious apartment on Parliament Hill with private dining and a housekeeper (rent allowance of $3,000)

- a personal staff of 10

- the Speaker's office space is spread across two floors, including a beautiful wood-panelled room and a marble-walled bathroom

- an office budget of $1 milllion ($170,048 for hospitality expenses)

But the real perk of the job is quietly known as "The Farm".

It's the official residence of the Speaker of the House and was once the 19th century estate belonging to former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. It's nestled in the Gatineau Hills at Kingsmere, near Ottawa in Chelsea, Que.

Mackenzie King bought the farm privately as part of his country estate. When he died, he willed it to the government.

The job:

The Speaker guides House deliberations by reciting the daily agenda, reading the motions before the House and recognizing MPs who wish to debate and putting the question to the House for a decision.

During daily Question Period, the Speaker ensures debates are conducted civilly and that MPs have a chance to take part.

(Screen shot from the National Capital Commission)