OLDS - Third term Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper says he intends to seek re-election as speaker of the legislature later this month.
The presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the speaker is elected by fellow MLAs in a secret ballot.
Cooper served as speaker since first being elected to the position following the 2019 provincial election.
“I will be seeking the re-election in the speaker's office,” Cooper told the Albertan. “I feel that I have done a good job over the last number of years and I hope to be successful in re-election as speaker.”
Cooper’s comments come after the new Danielle Smith cabinet was sworn in June 9.
Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen were named to the cabinet, but Cooper was not.
Dreeshen maintains his posting as minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors while Nixon has been named minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services. Dreeshen is also one of nine MLAs Smith named to the Treasury Board.
The election of the speaker will take place following the swearing-in of MLAs on June 19.
The speaker plays an important role in government as the head of the legislative branch, Cooper said.
“Sometimes people say that the speaker doesn’t actually do anything, but in fact they play a pretty major role in our democratic system,” he said.
Cooper called his past term as speaker “a real positive for our region.”
“I hope to be able to continue to serve as speaker and continue to raise the profile of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills as a result of that parliamentary role,” he said.
“I believe being speaker allows us to have a number of international visitors to the region because they are coming to see the speaker here in the constituency. It has had a significant impact on the region.”
Any MLA can put his or her name forward to become speaker.
