Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
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Name	Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislature	42nd Parliament of British Columbia
House type	Unicameral
Body	Parliament of British Columbia
Jurisdiction	British Columbia
Term limits	None
Foundation	0 1871
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Raj Chouhan
Party1	(NDP)
Election1	December 7, 2020
Leader2 type	Premier
Leader2	David Eby
Party2	(NDP)
Election2	November 18, 2022
Leader3 type	Leader of the Official Opposition
Leader3	Kevin Falcon
Party3	(BC United)
Election3	February 5, 2022
Members	87
Political groups1	Government, NDP (57), Opposition, BC United (26), Conservative (2), Green (2)
Voting system1	First-past-the-post
Last election1	October 24, 2020
Next election1	On or before October 19, 2024
Meeting place	Legislative Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Victoria
Website	www.leg.bc.ca

Contents

History
Composition and electoral system
Powers and functions
Current assembly
Buildings and facilities
See also

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the unicameral legislative body of the Parliament of British Columbia, located in Victoria. It is responsible for enacting provincial laws, approving budgets, and scrutinizing the actions of the Executive Council. The assembly consists of 87 members, known as MLAs, who are elected from provincial electoral districts using the first-past-the-post system.

History

The assembly was established following British Columbia's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1871, replacing the earlier colonial legislature. Its early history was dominated by figures like Amor De Cosmos and John Robson, who shaped the province's initial political landscape. The Great Depression and the rise of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in the 1930s marked a significant shift, leading to the first social democratic government under Dave Barrett in 1972. Subsequent decades saw alternating governments between the Social Credit Party, led by W. A. C. Bennett and Bill Vander Zalm, and the New Democratic Party. The 1990s introduced a new era of competitive politics with the decline of Social Credit and the rise of the BC Liberal Party under Gordon Campbell.

Composition and electoral system

The assembly comprises 87 MLAs, each representing a single electoral district defined by the independent British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission. Elections are governed by the Election Act and must be held at least every four years, as set by the Constitution Act. The first-past-the-post electoral system has been used since Confederation, though referendums on proportional representation, such as those in 2005 and 2018, have been held. The Speaker is elected by the assembly to preside over debates and maintain order, while the Clerk oversees procedural and administrative functions.

Powers and functions

As the core of the Parliament of British Columbia, the assembly holds the sole power to enact provincial statutes in areas like education, health care, and natural resources under the Constitution Act, 1867. It controls public finance through the approval of supply bills and the provincial budget presented by the Minister of Finance. The assembly holds the Executive Council accountable via Question Period, standing committee investigations, and votes of confidence and supply. It also plays a key role in the constitutional amendment process for matters affecting the province.

Current assembly

The 42nd Parliament of British Columbia was formed after the 2020 British Columbia general election, resulting in a majority government for the New Democratic Party under then-Premier John Horgan. The current Premier is David Eby, who succeeded Horgan in 2022. The Official Opposition is led by Kevin Falcon of BC United (formerly the BC Liberal Party). Other recognized parties include the BC Green Party, led by Sonia Furstenau, and the BC Conservative Party. The assembly's Speaker is Raj Chouhan.

Buildings and facilities

The assembly convenes in the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, a historic complex overlooking the Inner Harbour that was designed by Francis Rattenbury and opened in 1898. The main chamber is located in the domed central block, with members' offices housed in adjacent structures like the West Annex and the Columbia Tower. The Parliamentary Library provides research services, while security is managed by the Legislative Assembly Protective Service. Major renovations, such as the seismic upgrade project completed in the 2010s, have modernized the facilities while preserving their heritage character.