Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta revisits Tynwald

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Hon. Nathan Cooper, has said that findings from his visit to Tynwald will help to inform how the assembly could work more collaboratively in the future.

Speaker Cooper came to the Isle of Man after visiting Westminster and the Scottish Parliament and made the comment during the first of a two-day programme arranged by the Clerk of Tynwald’s office on June 27 and 28.

He said the visit would 'provide an opportunity to learn more about the Isle of Man, a unique Commonwealth democracy, and about Tynwald’s tricameral system.'

Speaker Cooper’s visit to Tynwald also provided an opportunity to renew his acquaintance with the Speaker of the House of Keys, Juan Watterson SHK, and to explore further the close ties between Alberta and the Isle of Man.

Speaker Cooper said: 'Already in the short time we’ve been here, it’s been super interesting to see how the two jurisdictions are different - in particular how most members of Tynwald are not affiliated to a political party - yet are similar in so many ways. 

'If there’s one thing we’ll be taking away from this visit, it’s an ambition to create a more collaborative parliamentary model.'

The Speaker of the House of Keys, Juan Watterson, SHK said: ‘It is always a pleasure to showcase Tynwald to visitors, because in doing so we are able to learn more of ourselves and others.  Speaker Cooper is a fellow enthusiast on all things parliamentary and it has been useful to learn from him about ways in which their assembly has improved accessibility and awareness of what they do.’