Long-Time Minister McIver Elected as Alberta Legislature Speaker

Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith introduce legislation addressing agreements between the federal government and provincial entities in Edmonton on April 10, 2024. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has resigned from cabinet and taken on the role of speaker in the Legislative Assembly.

McIver replaces Nathan Cooper, who left the role of speaker to become the new U.S. envoy for the province. McIver was voted into the speaker’s role on May 13, defeating Opposition NDP MLA Heather Sweet for the job.

Premier Danielle Smith announced McIver’s departure on social media just hours before congratulating him on his new role in the Assembly.

McIver said it had been an honour to serve as municipal affairs minister and through his prior portfolios in government.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to continue serving Albertans in a new way as Speaker of the House,” he said in a May 13 post on the X platform.

“I look forward to upholding the traditions of our Legislature with fairness and respect.”

After he was elected in, McIver was ceremoniously dragged to the speaker’s chair by Smith and Opposition NDP House Leader Christina Gray.

In his first speech after taking on the role, McIver said he was grateful for the new position.

“I’ve committed to everybody on both sides to honour the traditions of this place, to be non-partisan and to help us get through the business of the day every day,” McIver said from the speaker’s chair. “If we have a little fun, great ... better fun than nastiness.”

McIver was first elected in 2012 and was a long-time cabinet minister under Alberta Progressive Conservative governments. He also became a cabinet minister after the United Conservative Party was elected in 2019. McIver has held the role of municipal affairs minister since 2021. He has also served as transportation minister, infrastructure minister, and jobs, skills, training, and labour minister during his career.

Smith said that McIver was respected on “both sides of the aisle” and that she expected he would approach the role of speaker with “utmost seriousness.”

“After decades of public service, Speaker McIver has a proven track record of representing his constituents with dignity and honour, both as the MLA for Calgary-Hays, in his various ministerial roles, and previously as a city of Calgary councillor,” Smith said in a May 13 post on the X platform.

Just hours before she posted her congratulations, Smith announced McIver’s resignation on the platform.

“I am grateful for Ric’s hard work and commitment to his constituents and to serving Albertans,” she said in that post on X.

Smith said that the current minister of tourism and sports, and the government House Leader, Joseph Schow, will serve as interim minister of municipal affairs until a new minister is appointed.

She said Schow would be available to work with municipalities as they deal with the wildfire season.

The role of the speaker is to monitor question period and debate in the Assembly in a neutral manner.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.