CORRECTION: Well, I stand corrected! It turns out Nathan Cooper will be a diplomat, complete with a diplomatic plate and a nice red diplomatic passport to boot. The thing to remember, though, is that Mr. Cooper’s diplomatic credentials will be issued by the Government of Canada, which is mighty nice of them under the circumstances, if you ask me. His office, as stated, will be inside the Canadian Embassy, and he’s even passed the necessary security clearance. My apologies to Mr. Cooper for this error.
I thought I’d place this correction at the top of the story, rather than hidden at the bottom as is the tradition in journalism, since I don’t want to delete the story and the other points it makes, and because readers deserve to see what I’m correcting. DJC
FACT CHECK: Whatever Nathan Cooper will become if he moves to Washington D.C. in the near future, it won’t be a diplomat.
Having been scooped by the CBC, Mr. Cooper, who has been the Speaker of the Alberta Legislature since 2019 and United Conservative Party MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills since 2015, admitted yesterday that the broadcaster had it right and Premier Danielle Smith has asked him to move to Washington to serve in the pretentiously titled position of the province’s “Senior Representative to the United States.”
In its scoop, the CBC described the outgoing Speaker’s new job as a “diplomatic post.”
Mr. Cooper seemed to pick up on that mischaracterization in his statement to the Legislature at the end of the day yesterday, noting that “working as the assembly’s chief diplomat has equipped me to be ready for my next role, serving Albertans in a new and meaningful way.”
Sure, just as long as we all understand that being diplomatic – which Mr. Cooper is certainly capable of doing – isn’t the same thing as being a diplomat.
I note this not to be mean to Mr. Cooper, who is a genuinely likeable person and considerably more capable of diplomatic behaviour than your average UCP MLA nowadays and not a few actual diplomats. Moreover, he has done a creditable job as Speaker of the Assembly. Lots of people like him, including a couple of former NDP cabinet ministers as the press release published by the province yesterday noted.
Even NDP Leader Naheed Nehshi had a kind word for Mr. Cooper last night, thanking him for “his fairness, humanity, and deep respect for parliamentary tradition helped foster a more thoughtful and respectful legislature.”
That said, when he gets to the Imperial Capital, he’ll just be another lobbyist fresh off the turnip truck, albeit one who probably has a bigger-than-average expense account.
Diplomats, it must be noted, are members of a foreign service of another country, and of the diplomatic corps made up of representatives of many nations in the host country.
And while it is true that Alberta’s trade representatives, which is how Mr. Cooper’s new job could be more accurately described, report to the provincial government from their offices in a few foreign cities and several locations in the United States, that does not make any of them a diplomat, ambassador, envoy, or even a mere chargé d’affaires.
Nor will Mr. Cooper be invested with the power of independent action on behalf of the Alberta government, another way that his new job will differ from that of a real diplomat from a real country.
Really, these jobs are sinecures for friends of the ruling party, and yet another way for the Alberta government to try to intrude into exclusive federal jurisdiction.
If you doubt me, ask yourself if Mr. Cooper will be extended diplomatic immunity by the United States Government or given a diplomatic tag for his car, which would give him a pass on facing traffic and parking law enforcement. No such luck.
Well, to give Mr. Cooper and his predecessors in the job their due, he will have an office on Canadian territory – inside the walls of the Canadian Embassy and at the pleasure of the Government of Canada. “Collocated within the Canadian Embassy,” as the news release put it, as if Edmonton and Ottawa are co-owners of the building with the best address in Washington. Not so.
Given the disdain with which the provincial government has been treating the federal government lately, this is mighty generous of Global Affairs Canada, if you ask me.
Mr. Cooper’s resignation as Speaker and MLA will take effect on June 1. Despite its central role in the extension of U.S. power around the world, Washington is often described by longtime residents as seeming like a small town. It depends where you are of course, but it certainly has a small-town, 19th Century feel in the old neighbourhoods around the Capitol.
So perhaps the adjustment from the charms of Olds, Didsbury and Three Hills won’t be insurmountable for Mr. Cooper.
NOTE: Missing AlbertaPolitics.ca posts have been restored
Somehow, the day before yesterday, about half a dozen recent posts disappeared from this website. I don’t believe there was anything sinister about this. As far as I can tell it was an accident I perpetrated myself when I meant to delete a flawed version of a single post and managed to remove a week’s worth of posts in a single click. All have been restored and nearly 40 unpublished comments, which were deleted with the posts, have been moderated and published. My apologies to the readers who wondered what the heck had happened to their comments. I am grateful to those who drew this to my attention. DJC
Who’s the previous Conservative schmuck who’s being relieved of his/her sinecure to allow the accommodation of the latest Conservative schmuck (at great, yet inconsequential, expense)?
Lest we forget, Canada was founded by provinces that reluctantly gave up some of their powers to a national government. Although Alberta was not one of those founders, there does seem to be some regret and attempts to take back some of that power here too, although the constitution seems fairly clear about Foreign Affairs. Ironically, the desire to form a nation was motivated due to concerns about US expansion at the time.
Certain provinces like Alberta seem to often have money for trade offices abroad even while they scrimp on other things more clearly under their jurisdiction like health care. As if we really have to convince the Americans to buy our oil? However, I suppose in politics the appearance of action, whether needed or not, is often what counts. So Mr. Cooper will be off, not to be a diplomat, but hang out with them and presumably try to put the interests of Alberta’s government forward. Perhaps this will also save our Premier and her staff many more trips to the US, which are getting expensive and do not look so good politically any more.
No, I suspect there will be many more trips, you know, for consultations with Alberta’s representative to the court of DT.
What exactly will Mr. Cooper be lobbying the US government for? Bitcoin mining opportunities in Alberta? Might want to check the drought situation before depriving the citizens of this province of their drinking water. Private health providers? Real estate opportunities in Jasper? After Madam Premier’s little speech on Monday, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Alberta’s UCP are hoping to build prisons for US deportees. Surely it’s not pipelines.
Thank goodness Alberta is in such great fiscal shape to be able to afford these plum positions.
Okay, wait, whut? Alberta sent an “ambassador” under a different title, to the USA?
Isn’t that illegal? Is Dixie Dani mowing the fed’s lawn? To hang out with the ambassadors–wow, nice guy or not, if I was Carney, I’d call this one a mine field. When your fifth column is hanging out in the office overhearing all the tidbits, that’s kinda bad for security, no?
With no diplomatic immunity he’s trudging in some very deep mud down in that cesspit. Add in the eye-watering level of corruption that runs Washington these days.
Whatever you do down there Mr. Cooper–stay away from the crypto.
(as for the missing comments, i figured my last sarcastic remark might have been a snark too far for the comment section so i was gonna rewrite it, then all the comments showed up intact)
My first thought was “why did Smith ask him?” Deliberately reducing her already thin majority, even if he was speaker and would only vote to break a tie. The next thought was maybe she is going to call two (or even all three) by-elections, and wants to have a win she can crow about.
I wonder if he wants some distance from the health care scandals or she wants him away where he cannot argue with her about it?
But who knows, maybe the rats are looking for new homes.
More Ditchbillies going south to roost…….
For those who may not know Alberta, Olds, Didsbury and Three Hills are somewhat suspect. But rather than my rant, I’ll give you a synopsis of what Dani’s American handlers don’t need you to know. https://youtu.be/NDIoZNd_adY
Sounds like Cooper’s being rewarded for faithful and loyal service as Speaker/Carnival Barker. Guaranteed place at the public trough and gets wet-bar privileges. What a gig.
When I hear yet another of Smith’s expensive forays meant to bump up against areas of federal jurisdiction, my brain screams “Healthcare!!!”
So much money wasted as healthcare continues to crumble so Danielle can pretend she’s someone of consequence.
Welcome to DOGE Alberta & Bill 55……..Dani Smith style…….USELESSCP
While this guy had a likeable personality, he still carries baggage from the UCP.
He began his political career as a ‘Roser, and did not deign to cross the floor with Yankee Doodle Dani to the Prentice PCs in 2014, so a true believer.