Speller was born in Hagersville, Ontario and, in 1983, married Joan Mouland, with whom he has a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Victoria.
Speller was first elected in the 1988 Canadian federal election as a member of the Liberals. Brian Mulroney's PCs won the election, however, relegating Speller to opposition Member of Parliament (MP). As an opposition MP, Speller was Associate Trade Critic, Youth Critic and Chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus.
Speller was re-elected in 1993, 1997 and 2000, these times as a member of a victorious party. Jean Chretien's Liberals won three successive elections. Speller served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (1994-1995), served on the CPA International Executive Committee, served on the Parliamentary Steel Caucus (1993, 1994, 1998), served on the Joint Inter-Parliamentary Council, and was Chair of the Sub-committee on Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Canadian Branch).
On December 12, 2003, incoming Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin named Speller the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Speller represents the constituency of Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant.
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