Cannan has been a strong advocate for reform of the National Health Service on the Isle of Man and was instrumental in initiating the review by Sir Jonathan Michael which has led to a proposed separation of policy and operations and the formation of a new delivery organisation named Manx Care.

His budgets saw significant rises in personal tax allowances alongside targeted above inflation welfare increases for low paid workers as well as child benefit.

In March 2020 Cannan delivered the economic package[5] that was to sustain the Isle of Man through the COVID pandemic which included a salary support scheme and the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance (MERA).

He had previously faced no-confidence calls in March earlier in the year due to public discontent with the 2024 budget, however he managed to survive this crisis despite a petition for a vote garnering over 1,800 signatures.

Under the new system, the Island was divided into 12 constituencies based on population, with each area represented by two members of the House of Keys.

Cannan was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, in 1968 and educated at King William's College, Isle of Man, and Sandhurst before undertaking a short service commission with the Royal Regiment of Wales.