By Canadian Press, CHAT News Staff

PROVINCIAL POLITICS

Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver voted in as new legislature Speaker

May 13, 2025 | 10:35 AM

Calgary legislature member Ric McIver is the new Speaker of the Alberta legislature.

McIver was selected in a vote of his peers in the chamber, defeating Opposition NDP candidate Heather Sweet.

Just hours earlier, McIver resigned from his job as minister of municipal affairs.

The Speaker’s job became vacant last week after Nathan Cooper announced he was stepping down in order to represent Alberta’s interests in Washington D.C.

The role of the Speaker is to be the non-partisan referee during question period and debate.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: April 2-5

19h ago

What's On

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in April

Apr 01, 2026

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: March 27-29

Mar 27, 2026

Tourism Minister Joseph Schow will take on McIver’s portfolio on an interim basis.

McIver has held public office for nearly 25 years.

He was first elected as an MLA for Calgary-Hays in April 2012 and will continue serving in that role after his cabinet exit.

McIver is no stranger to cabinet after serving as minister of transportation, infrastructure, jobs and municipal affairs.

Before entering the Alberta legislature, McIver was on Calgary city council from 2001 to 2010.