Nathan Cooper, the widely respected speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, has announced his resignation, stepping down to take on a diplomatic role as Alberta’s senior representative to the United States in Washington, D.C., starting in June.
He says he's not leaving due to government controversy.
The move, appointed by Premier Danielle Smith, comes as the province seeks to bolster trade and investment ties amid looming U.S.-Canada tariff tensions under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Cooper has represented Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills as a United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA since 2015, will also vacate his seat, triggering a byelection in the rural constituency. His departure as speaker, effective at the end of the spring legislative session, necessitates an election for a new speaker.
Known for his competence, wit, and diligence, Cooper earned praise for his impartial leadership since becoming speaker in 2019, a role he retained after the 2023 election. At 39, he was Alberta’s youngest speaker since 1936. His tenure included navigating the legislature through many contentious debates.
Addressing speculation about his exit, Cooper firmly dismissed suggestions that he was fleeing government controversy. “Absolutely not,” he told reporters at a media scrum Thursday, after receiving applause from journalists.
“I’m excited about what’s next for me. I don’t think that there is significant controversy in government. While there is always robust public debate, I am certainly excited about what’s next, not running from something that’s happening here.”
The UCP has faced recent challenges, including the loss of MLAs Peter Guthrie and Scott Sinclair over budget concerns and the so-called “CorruptCare” scandal, which involved allegations of mismanagement in health-care contracting.
Despite these tensions, Cooper emphasized his new role’s focus on relationship-building.
“I think the way that we do things is sometimes just as important as the what we do,” he said. “And so I’m largely going to be focused on building relationships for the province and serving Albertans in a new and exciting way.”
Cooper’s diplomatic appointment comes at a critical time. Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, announced in early 2025, threaten Alberta’s energy and agricultural exports, which account for over $100 billion annually to the U.S.
