EDMONTON — Alberta’s provincial politicians are to convene Thursday to pick a new Speaker of the legislature.
Outgoing Speaker Gene Zwozdesky says his successor will have one of the busiest and most gratifying jobs in politics, but also one of the loneliest.
Zwozdesky says the Speaker, as the referee of debate in the house, needs to remain impartial.
He says that’s why, as a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus, he had to distance himself from colleagues and political events when the house was in session.
All legislature members vote in the secret ballot, but the majority NDP caucus has already signalled it will endorse Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner.
A short session of the legislature is to begin Monday with a speech from the throne.