McIver elected as new Alberta Speaker hours after resigning from cabinet

Alberta MLAs have elected veteran politician Ric McIver as the fifteenth Speaker of the province’s legislative assembly in a move that came hours after his resignation from cabinet was announced.

McIver won with a majority of votes over New Democrat MLA Heather Sweet, the only other MLA nominated for the role.

As is tradition, McIver feigned resistance while being forcibly escorted to the Speaker’s Chair by Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition House Leader Christina Gray as gleeful MLAs clapped and cheered them on.

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McIver donned the Speaker’s robe and western tricorn hat before delivering a 90-second address to the assembly.

“I’m grateful for this honour,” he said. “Despite the fact I’ve watched this show for this important place for almost about 13 years, that doesn’t mean I won’t mess it up, but with your help, I’ll fail along until we get better at it.”

McIver added he had spoken with leaders of both parties about his intention to act in a non-partisan way to ensure parliamentary traditions are followed.

He replaces Nathan Cooper who is resigning as a MLA at the start of next month to take on a new job representing the provincial government in Washington.

McIver, 66, is in his fourth term as the MLA for Calgary-Hays, having first been elected in 2012.

He has served in cabinets for five premiers and held multiple cabinet portfolios during that time, including those of transportation and infrastructure as well as his most recent position as municipal affairs minister.

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Before entering provincial politics, he served on Calgary city council between 2001 and 2010.

He resigned from cabinet on Monday evening, according to a statement from the premier’s office, with the role of municipal affairs minister to be filled on an interim basis by current Government House Leader and Tourism and Sport Minister Joseph Schow.

In nominating McIver, Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken hailed the former minister’s experience as suiting him to the role of Speaker.

“He has shown a remarkable, remarkable ability to listen genuinely, listen, not only to fellow members, but to the concerns of citizens from all walks of life,” he said.

“That ability to listen, to find common ground and to lead without seeking the spotlight is exactly what we need in our Speaker.”

Premier Smith put out a statement after McIver’s election, noting he had served as MLA with “dignity and honour” throughout his time at the legislature.

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“He is respected on both sides of the aisle and I know he will approach his new role as Speaker with the utmost seriousness.”

Secret ballot

The vote was held by a secret ballot with candidates required to get a majority of 50 per cent plus one votes to secure the role.

MLAs were instructed to print the first and and last name of their preferred candidate on the ballots which were placed in a box on the Sergeant-at-Arms’ desk inside the chamber.

Those ballots were then taken by the clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms to a private area to be counted after which the assembly bells were sounded a little over six minutes later to indicate the results had been tallied.

As per tradition Clerk Shannon Dean did not reveal the exact results, only stating to the assembly, “the member having received the majority of votes cast, Honourable Mr. McIver,” she said.

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“Mr. McIver is hereby the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the remainder of the 31st Legislature.”

The Speaker plays both symbolic and practical roles, most prominently as a referee of sorts in the assembly with the task of maintaining order and directing debates in accordance with parliamentary procedures.

By convention, the Speaker is to be impartial in exercising the power of the role and does not take part in debates and would only cast a vote in order to break a tie.

McIver’s election means there remains 47 UCP members in the assembly, with 36 NDP members as well as two independents.

Cooper’s resignation as MLA takes effect at the start of June, leaving three vacancies in the assembly along with the seats for Edmonton-Strathcona and Edmonton-Ellerslie.

mblack@postmedia.com

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