EDMONTON -- 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.
Tourism Minister Joseph Schow will take on McIver's portfolio on an interim basis.
More coming.