Latest news with #NathanCooper
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
3 Alberta provincial byelections called for June 23
Albertans in three ridings will go to the polls on June 23 after three byelections to fill vacancies were called Monday. Voters will be able to cast their ballots in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Edmonton-Strathcona has been vacant since Rachel Notley resigned in December. Edmonton-Ellerslie has been without an MLA since Rod Loyola resigned his seat to run in the federal election. The last MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Nathan Cooper, resigned his seat in the assembly earlier this month to become province's new representative to the United States A news release from Elections Alberta notes some key dates for the byelections: Candidate nominations are open currently and will close on June 5 at 2:00 p.m. Advance voting begins on Tuesday, June 17 and ends on Saturday, June 21. On election day, Monday, June 23, all voting places will be open from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Unofficial results will be available after voting closes on election day. Official results will be announced on July 3, at 10:00 a.m. Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years of age or older on the date of the election are eligible to vote if they are an resident of one of the electoral divisions.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
3 Alberta provincial byelections called for June 23
Albertans in three ridings will go to the polls on June 23 after three byelections to fill vacancies were called Monday. Voters will be able to cast their ballots in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Edmonton-Strathcona has been vacant since Rachel Notley resigned in December. Edmonton-Ellerslie has been without an MLA since Rod Loyola resigned his seat to run in the federal election. The last MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Nathan Cooper, resigned his seat in the assembly earlier this month to become province's new representative to the United States A news release from Elections Alberta notes some key dates for the byelections: Candidate nominations are open currently and will close on June 5 at 2:00 p.m. Advance voting begins on Tuesday, June 17 and ends on Saturday, June 21. On election day, Monday, June 23, all voting places will be open from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Unofficial results will be available after voting closes on election day. Official results will be announced on July 3, at 10:00 a.m. Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years of age or older on the date of the election are eligible to vote if they are an resident of one of the electoral divisions.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Former speaker Cooper shifts briefly out of impartial mode in the Alberta legislature
Almost literally on his way out the door last week, the former speaker of the Alberta legislature spoke. But this time the words from Nathan Cooper's mouth were those of a regular member of the assembly. For six years, he was the official keeper of decorum during the politically charged back-and-forth under the dome. When Cooper spoke, everyone listened and everyone obeyed, for the most part politely accepting his rulings and interpretations based on centuries of parliamentary tradition. His absence from the rank-and-file and his short-lived return did not go unmentioned. 'I'm proud to say that the honourable member was one of the first people to support me in my byelection in 2018. But it took him 2,499 days, or six years, 10 months and three days, to actually ask me a question in this house,' quipped Devin Dreeshen, the minister of transportation and economic corridors. Dreeshen represents the central Alberta riding of Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, right next to Cooper's riding of Olds-Disbury-Three Hills. First elected by the assembly as speaker in May 2019, Cooper held the role until announcing just before the end of this spring's sitting that he was stepping down. Cooper is also resigning as the member elected by voters in his riding, having accepted a government appointment as Alberta's representative in Washington, DC. But before packing his bags, Cooper tossed softballs to members of cabinet, talked up his riding and praised the UCP government for its spending in rural Alberta. He said: 'In the outstanding constituency of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, every spring farmers invest in seeds and fertilizer to make the crops grow, just like our government invests in infrastructure and the future of our province to make this province grow. With new schools and innovative projects, we reap the benefits of that growth.' Rajan Sawhney, then the minister of advanced education, took the cue to mention $63 million over three years for the expansion of the W.J. Elliot Building at Olds College. The expansion creates 440 apprenticeship seats and 100 new dual credit seats. Since 2019 the government has provided the college with operating grants worth $200 million and capital maintenance and renewal funding worth $27 million, added Sawhney, the member for Calgary-North West. 'I want to thank the member for his incredible advocacy on behalf of his constituents,' said Sawhney, who on Friday was sworn in as Indigenous affairs minister in a limited cabinet shuffle. For Acme, a village that's also in Cooper's riding, the former speaker touted the building of a rural centre of training excellence in conjunction with a new high school. He asked the education minister to explain why training at home is 'keeping rural Alberta vibrant.' Demetrios Nicolaides responded that investing in rural Alberta is a long-time government priority. Training helps communities 'grow talent at home' to contribute to the local community and economy, said Nicolaides, the member for Calgary-Bow. For his part, Dreeshen singled out $3.5 million budgeted for a water project in Mountain View county. Cooper had asked him to detail his 'favourite investments' in rural Alberta — to interjections from the floor. 'Order, order, order,' said the speaker. As in Ric McIver, the new speaker and the former minister of municipal affairs. McIver was elected speaker by a vote of the assembly May 13. He's a fourth-term MLA for Calgary-Hays. Cooper first entered provincial politics in the 2015 general election, representing the Wildrose party. On his last day as speaker, May 7, Cooper said: 'Serving this assembly has been one of the greatest honours of my lifetime. 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, as my time in the chair will only last a few more minutes.' --------------------------------------------- By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Macleod Gazette
CBC
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Why the legislature Speaker is becoming Alberta's U.S. representative
MLA Nathan Cooper, who serves as the Speaker of the Alberta Legislature, is resigning his rural Alberta seat to become the province's envoy to Washington, D.C., amid tense U.S.-Canada relations.
Global News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Alberta's former Speaker to vote, heckle as brief MLA: ‘Things to get off my chest'
The now-former Speaker of the Alberta legislature says he's excited to display some partisanship in his last days as an elected official. Nathan Cooper announced this week that he is to resign his seat in the assembly to become Alberta's representative to the United States in Washington. The United Conservative Party MLA had been Alberta's legislature Speaker — the non-voting and non-partisan debate referee — since 2019. Cooper told reporters Thursday that he thinks he had a positive impact by softening the relationship between Alberta's two parties, while also making a concerted effort to help people of all ages understand the legislative system. 5:25 MLA Nathan Cooper launches a video series called Retro Question Period But those accomplishments, he said, won't stop him from getting back to his partisan roots in the last few days of Alberta's spring session and his last as a member of the legislature. Story continues below advertisement 'I've also got a lot of things to get off my chest,' Cooper said. 'When I was in the opposition, I actually was one of the chief hecklers, so I look forward to giving the new Speaker a run for their money.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "When I was in the opposition, I actually was one of the chief hecklers, so I look forward to giving the new Speaker a run for their money." Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Cooper, who was first elected in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills in 2015 under the Wildrose Party banner, added he will be voting for government legislation as a number of bills near the finish line with one week left in the spring sitting. 'The numbers are tight in there, and so we need to make sure that the government's agenda is advancing,' he said. Striking a more serious tone, Cooper said his time as Speaker was like a dream, which was why it was a 'very sad day' to see that dream come to an end. He said his distinct Speaker calls, which members from both sides of the house say will be especially missed, were never something he practised. Rather, he said, they were his attempt to make sure members were engaged. View image in full screen In tradition, newly-elected speaker of the house Nathan Cooper is dragged to the chair by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and NDP Leader Rachel Notley, after being voted in, in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Jason Franson/ The Canadian Press Cooper laughed when recounting how, in his early days as Speaker, one Albertan emailed him to say that if he wanted to be a ringside announcer at wrestling matches, he should do so. But until then, they said he needed to tone it down. Story continues below advertisement He also chuckled when he brought up that a columnist once wrote that Cooper sounded like a 'bellowing moose.' As Alberta's representative to the U.S., Cooper will look to attract investment, expand trade opportunities and maintain relationships to keep Alberta connected to decision-makers south of the border. He said he didn't have an endorsement for who should take his place as Speaker, but his top piece of advice was to always remain calm. 'You really have to be in control of yourself so that you can help navigate what are sometimes complex and frustrating situations,' he said. A secret ballot election of assembly members will take place Tuesday to elect Cooper's successor. If only one candidate is nominated, then no election is necessary. Story continues below advertisement When Cooper was first elected to the Speaker's chair in 2019, his only opponent was Opposition NDP member and current agriculture critic Heather Sweet. Cooper then faced off against Christina Gray in 2023, who's now the Opposition NDP house leader. Gray wouldn't say Thursday if she'd want to throw her hat in the ring again, saying instead that the NDP caucus hadn't discussed who it might nominate for Speaker. One potential candidate is United Conservative Airdrie-East member Angela Pitt. She served as Cooper's deputy speaker and chair of committees since 2019 and took over the Speaker's role Thursday. There are also rumours that Premier Danielle Smith's municipal affairs minister might want the job. Asked Wednesday if he had any interest, Ric McIver, a longtime MLA and cabinet minister under three premiers, said bluntly: 'Stay tuned.'
