Nathan Cooper (Canadian politician)
Nathan Cooper | |
|---|---|
Cooper in 2015 | |
| 14th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office May 21, 2019 – May 13, 2025 | |
| Deputy | Angela Pitt |
| Preceded by | Bob Wanner |
| Succeeded by | Ric McIver |
| Leader of the Opposition in Alberta | |
| In office July 24, 2017 – October 30, 2017 | |
| Deputy | Mike Ellis |
| Preceded by | Brian Jean |
| Succeeded by | Jason Nixon |
| Interim Leader of the United Conservative Party | |
| In office July 24, 2017 – October 30, 2017 | |
| Deputy | Mike Ellis |
| Preceded by | Brian Jean (as leader of the Wildrose Party) Jason Kenney (as leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta) |
| Succeeded by | Jason Kenney |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills | |
| In office May 5, 2015 – May 22, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Rowe |
| Succeeded by | to be elected |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nathan Matthew Cooper April 18, 1980 York, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | United Conservative |
| Other political affiliations | Wildrose (until 2017) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Olds, Alberta, Canada |
Nathan Matthew Cooper MLA (born April 18, 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.
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. He was reelected Speaker on June 20, 2023.
On May 7, 2025 Cooper announced he would resign as MLA and Speaker of the House and move to a new job as Alberta's representative in Washington beginning in June 2025.
He officially resigned his role as Speaker on May 13, 2025 and MLA on May 22. The by-election to replace him is scheduled for June 23, 2025.