The Honourable
Nathan Cooper
MLA
Headshot of Nathan Cooper
Cooper in 2015
14th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Assumed office
May 21, 2019
Premier
Lieutenant Governor
DeputyAngela Pitt
Preceded byBob Wanner
Leader of the Opposition in Alberta
In office
July 24, 2017 – October 30, 2017
DeputyMike Ellis
Preceded byBrian Jean
Succeeded byJason Nixon
Leader of the United Conservative Party
Interim
In office
July 24, 2017 – October 30, 2017
DeputyMike Ellis
Preceded byBrian Jean (as leader of the Wildrose Party)
Jason Kenney (as leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta)
Succeeded byJason Kenney
Member of the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
Assumed office
May 5, 2015
Preceded byBruce Rowe
Personal details
Born
Nathan Matthew Cooper

1980 (age 43–44)
York, Ontario, Canada
Political partyUnited Conservative
Other political
affiliations		Wildrose (until 2017)
Residence(s)Olds, Alberta, Canada

Nathan Matthew Cooper MLA (born 1980) is a Canadian politician who was elected in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 Alberta general elections to represent the electoral district of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills in the 29th, 30th, and 31st Alberta Legislatures. Cooper was a municipal councillor in Carstairs, Alberta prior to being elected to the Legislative Assembly. Cooper also served as Chief of Staff to the Wildrose Official Opposition caucus.[1][2]

On July 24, 2017, Cooper was elected interim leader of the new United Conservative Party caucus, becoming the Leader of the Opposition in that process. On that same date, he and his interim leadership team nominally assumed the leaderships of the two parties that merged to form the UCP, the Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose. At the time, Alberta electoral law did not allow parties to formally merge. On 28 October 2017, Cooper's tenure as interim leader ended when former PC leader Jason Kenney was elected as the UCP's first full-time leader.

Cooper was first elected to serve as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on May 21, 2019.[3]

Speaker of the House

Cooper was elected Speaker of the House in the Alberta Legislature on May 21, 2019 and reelected to a second term on June 20, 2023.[3][4]

He was nominated for reelection by Minister Nate Horner. Horner noted that Cooper that was "an absolute parliamentary and political nerd," and had done "a remarkable job" as Speaker of the 30th Legislature.[4]

COVID-19 letter controversy

In 2021, Cooper signed a letter opposing restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

Cooper was widely criticized for violating the Speaker's role of impartiality and impeding his ability to moderate debate. Former Speaker David Carter has suggested that Cooper should resign or be removed by a motion of non-confidence.[6]

He later apologized for violating the Speaker's traditional role of impartiality.[7] Former Speaker Robert Wanner stated that while he believed the apology was sincere, it did not go far enough to restore faith in his impartiality.[6]

Electoral history

2023 general election

2023 Alberta general election: Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United ConservativeNathan Cooper18,22875.29-3.26
New DemocraticCheryl Hunter Loewen4,55318.81+7.05
Alberta IndependenceKatherine Kowalchuk1,1404.71–
Wildrose Loyalty CoalitionCam Tatlock1830.76–
Solidarity MovementJudy Bridges1050.43–
Total 24,20999.43–
Rejected and declined 1380.57
Turnout 24,34762.13
Eligible voters 39,185
United Conservative hold Swing -5.16
Source(s)
Source: Elections Alberta[8]

2019 general election

2019 Alberta general election: Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United ConservativeNathan Cooper20,51678.55%-1.21%
New DemocraticKyle Johnston3,07011.75%-5.06%
Alberta PartyChase Brown1,7796.81%3.39%
Freedom ConservativeAllen MacLennan5572.13%–
Alberta Advantage PartyDave Hughes1950.75%–
Total 26,117––
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 120––
Eligible electors / Turnout 36,37572.13%12.69%
United Conservative notional hold Swing 19.87%
Source(s)
Source: "76 - Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2015 general election

2015 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%
WildroseNathan Cooper10,69253.4%
Progressive ConservativeWade Bearchell5,27426.3%
New DemocraticGlenn Norman3,36616.8%
Alberta PartyJim Adamchick6853.4%
Total valid votes 20,017

References

  1. ↑ "Nathan M. Cooper | Cooper4Carstairs". Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  2. ↑ "Member Information: Nathan Cooper". www.youcount.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  3. 1 2 Leavitt, Kieran (21 May 2019). "Alberta legislature's new Speaker named after United Conservative agenda laid out". The Toronto Star.
  4. 1 2 "'Did a remarkable job': Cooper reelected as Speaker in Alberta legislature". Edmonton. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  5. ↑ French, Janet. "Sixteen government MLAs speak out against latest Alberta public health restrictions". CBC News. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Former Alberta Speakers condemn actions of Cooper and Pitt". The Lethbridge Herald - News and Sports from around Lethbridge. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  7. ↑ "Alberta legislature Speaker apologizes for condemning new COVID health restrictions". CBC News. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "76 - Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 10, 2023.


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