Latest news with #EdmontonEllerslie
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Both major parties confirm nominations for undated Edmonton-Ellerslie by-election
From left to right: undated photos of Naresh Bhardwaj, the United Conservative Party's nomination for Edmonton-Ellerslie, and Gurtej Singh Brar, the Alberta New Democratic Party's nomination for Edmonton-Ellerslie. (Source: United Conservative Party and Alberta New Democratic Party)
Calgary Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Cooper to resign as MLA and Speaker to take on job as Alberta representative in D.C.
Article content Alberta Speaker Nathan Cooper is set to resign from his role as MLA and take on a new job as the province's representative in Washington beginning next month. Article content Article content Cooper, 45, has served as MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills for close to a decade and will replace former Edmonton Conservative MP James Rajotte in the D.C.-based diplomatic post. Article content He shared news of his new role in an address to the legislative assembly Wednesday afternoon, saying Premier Danielle Smith had offered him the position and he had accepted. Article content Article content 'Standing alongside each of you and serving you has been a dream that I've lived out each day, but today that dream comes to an end,' he said. Article content Article content 'I believe that we are at a critical time in our province and in our country with respect to how we interact with the world and with the United States of America. How we do that interaction, I believe, is just as important as what we do to interact.' Article content In a news release, Smith described Cooper's new role as 'focusing on attracting investment, expanding trade opportunities and maintaining the relationships needed to connect Alberta with key decision makers.' Article content 'I look forward to continuing to work closely with Nathan as we advocate for Albertans and for our province's interests in Washington and across the U.S.,' Smith said. Article content Government house leader Joseph Schow spoke in the assembly and thanked Cooper for his service. Article content 'We all know we will miss the chamber time with you, with a well-timed joke to break the tension, with your careful and steady hand in managing this chamber.' Article content Article content Opposition house leader Christina Grey echoed those sentiments, noting Cooper's 'fairness, humanity, knowledge and deep respect for parliamentary tradition.' Article content Article content Cooper said his resignation as Speaker takes effect on Monday evening at midnight, with a new Speaker to be selected by MLAs the following day. Article content He said he will continue as a backbench MLA until his new job commences in June. Article content Cooper's departure means there are now three vacancies in the assembly, along with those created by resignations of New Democrat MLAs Rachel Notley (Edmonton Strathcona) and Rod Loyola (Edmonton Ellerslie). Article content The Edmonton Strathcona byelection must be called by the end of next month, though Smith indicated on her radio show last weekend that the call could come sooner than that. Article content Minus Cooper, there are 46 UCP members in the assembly, just two more than needed for a majority given no vacancies.
Calgary Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Cooper to resign as MLA, speaker to take on job as Alberta representative in D.C.
Article content Alberta Speaker Nathan Cooper is set to resign from his role as MLA and take on a new job as the province's representative to Washington beginning next month. Article content Article content Cooper, 45, has served as MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills for close to a decade and will replace former Edmonton Conservative MP James Rajotte in the D.C.-based diplomatic post. Article content He shared news of his new role in an address to the assembly Wednesday afternoon, saying Premier Danielle Smith had offered him the position and he had accepted. Article content Article content 'Standing alongside each of you and serving you has been a dream that I've lived out each day, but today that dream comes to an end,' he said. Article content Article content 'I believe that we are at a critical time in our province and in our country with respect to how we interact with the world and with the United States of America. How we do that interaction, I believe, is just as important as what we do to interact.' Article content In a news release, Smith described Cooper's new role as 'focusing on attracting investment, expanding trade opportunities and maintaining the relationships needed to connect Alberta with key decision makers.' Article content 'I look forward to continuing to work closely with Nathan as we advocate for Albertans and for our province's interests in Washington and across the U.S.,' Smith said. Article content Government house leader Joseph Schow spoke in the assembly and thanked Cooper for his service. Article content 'We all know we will miss the chamber time with you, with a well-timed joke to break the tension, with your careful and steady hand in managing this chamber.' Article content Article content Opposition house leader Christina Grey echoed those sentiments, noting Cooper's 'fairness, humanity, knowledge and deep respect for parliamentary tradition.' Article content Article content Cooper said his resignation as speaker takes effect on Monday evening at midnight, with a new speaker to be selected by MLAs the following day. Article content He said he will continue as a backbench MLA until his new job commences in June. Article content Cooper's departure means there are now three vacancies in the assembly, along with those created by resignations of New Democrat MLAs Rachel Notley (Edmonton Strathcona) and Rod Loyola (Edmonton Ellerslie). Article content The Edmonton Strathcona byelection must be called by the end of next month, though Smith indicated on her radio show last weekend that the call could come sooner than that. Article content Minus Cooper, there are 46 UCP members in the assembly, just two more than needed for a majority given no vacancies.
