(UCP)

By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta legislature speaker to resign seat, become rep to United States

May 7, 2025 | 4:25 PM

The Speaker of the Alberta legislature is to resign his seat in the assembly and become the province’s representative to the United States.

Nathan Cooper says serving as the Speaker has been the honour of a lifetime.

The Speaker’s role is to preside over debates and proceedings in the house in a non-partisan matter, and Cooper says it has prepared him to be a diplomat on a larger stage.

Cooper was first elected in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills as a member of the Wildrose Party in 2015.

When the party merged with the Progressive Conservatives two years later, Cooper became the new United Conservative Party’s first leader on an interim basis before it held a formal leadership race.

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Cooper was elected Speaker of the Alberta legislature by fellow MLAs following the 2019 provincial election and was re-elected to the role in 2023.

Naheed Nenshi, Leader of Alberta’s New Democrats, issued the following statement in response:

“On behalf of Alberta’s New Democrats, I want to thank Speaker Nathan Cooper for his years of service in the legislature and for his stewardship of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly since 2019.

“His fairness, humanity, and deep respect for parliamentary tradition helped foster a more thoughtful and respectful legislature.”

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