Legislative assemblies of Canadian provinces and territories

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the legislative assemblies of Canada's provinces and territories. Each province's legislative assembly, along with the province's lieutenant governor, form the province's legislature (which is called a parliament or general assembly in some provinces). Historically, several provinces had bicameral legislatures, but they all eventually dissolved their upper house or merged it with their lower house, so that all provincial legislatures are now unicameral.

Members of the legislative assemblies of Canada's provinces and territories are called by various names. In most provinces and all three territories, they are called Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in English. In Ontario, they are called members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs); in Quebec, they are called members of the National Assembly (MNAs); and in Newfoundland and Labrador, they are called members of the House of Assembly (MHAs).

The legislative assembly with the most members is the National Assembly of Quebec, which consists of 125 MNAs. The legislative assembly with the fewest members of any province is the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, which consists of 27 MLAs. All of the legislative assemblies of Canada’s territories and autonomous areas have fewer members than that of Prince Edward Island.

Current legislative assemblies[edit]

Provincial legislative assemblies
Province Legislature name Assembly name Location First minister Members Ref
 Alberta Legislature Legislative Assembly[a] Edmonton Premier[b] 87 MLAs [1]
 British Columbia Parliament Legislative Assembly[a] Victoria Premier[b] 87 MLAs [2]
 Manitoba Legislature Legislative Assembly[a] Winnipeg Premier[b] 57 MLAs [3]
 New Brunswick Legislature Legislative Assembly[a] Fredericton Premier[b] 49 MLAs [4]
 Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly House of Assembly[a] St. John's Premier[b] 40 MHAs [5]
 Nova Scotia General Assembly House of Assembly[a] Halifax Premier[b] 55 MLAs [6]
 Ontario Parliament Legislative Assembly[a] Toronto Premier[b] 124 MPPs [7]
 Prince Edward Island General Assembly Legislative Assembly[a] Charlottetown Premier[b] 27 MLAs [8]
 Quebec Parliament National Assembly[c] Quebec City Premier[b] 125 MNAs [9]
 Saskatchewan Legislature Legislative Assembly[a] Regina Premier[b] 61 MLAs [10]
Territorial assemblies
Territory Legislature name Assembly name Location First minister Members Ref
 Northwest Territories Legislature (List) Legislative Assembly[d] Yellowknife Premier[b] 19 MLAs [11]
 Nunavut Legislature (List) Legislative Assembly[e][a] Iqaluit Premier[f][b] 22 MLAs [12]
 Yukon Legislature Legislative Assembly[a] Whitehorse Premier[b] 19 MLAs [13]
Autonomous area assemblies
Area Legislature name Location First minister Members Ref
Haida Nation Council[g] Hlg̱aagilda President 16 members [14]
Nisg̱a'a Nation Nisg̱aʼa Lisims Gitlax̱tʼaamiks Executive chairperson 11 members [15]
 Nunatsiavut Assembly Hopedale First Minister 18 MNAs [16]
Tłı̨chǫ Ndé Tłı̨chǫ Ndek'àowo Assembly Behchokǫ̀ Grand Chief 13 members [17]

Gallery[edit]

Composition[edit]

In the table below, the parties with shading form part of the provincial government whilst the parties in bold have official party status.

Canadian provincial and territorial legislature composition
Province Seats
(majority)
PC NDP Liberal Green Others
(in gov)
Others Ind. Last
election
Next
election
Ontario 124
(63)
83 31 8 1 - - 1 2022 44th
Quebec 125
(63)
- - 19 CAQ 89 QS 12, PQ 4
1 2022 44th
British Columbia 87
(44)
- 57 - 2 - BCU 27,
Con 1
2020 43rd
Alberta 87
(44)
- 38 - - UCP 48 - 1 2023 32nd
Manitoba 57
(29)
22 34 2 - - - - 2023 44th
Saskatchewan 61
(31)
- 12 - - Sask. 48 SUP 1 - 2020 30th
Nova Scotia 55
(28)
31 6 17 - - - 1 2021 65th
New Brunswick 49
(25)
29 - 16 3 - - 1 2020 41st
Newfoundland
and Labrador
40
(21)
12 3 22 - - - 3 2021 52nd
Prince
Edward Island
27
(14)
22 - 3 2 - - - 2023 68th
Northwest
Territories
19
(10)
- - - - - - 19 2023 26th
Yukon 19
(10)
- 3 8 - - Yukon 8 - 2021 40th
Nunavut 22
(12)
- - - - - - 22 2021 7th

Past legislative chambers[edit]

Past legislative chambers of provinces and territories[edit]

Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Alberta
1670–1905 See Northwest Territories.
1905–present Legislative Assembly of Alberta Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Legislature of Alberta
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
British Columbia
1849-1866 See Vancouver Island and Colony of British Columbia.
1866–1871 Legislative Council of British Columbia* Governor of the United Colony of British Columbia Governor-in-Council
1871–present Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Lieutenant governor of British Columbia Parliament of British Columbia

*Included some elected members, but did not have responsible government.

Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Manitoba
1670-1821 See Northwest Territories.
1821-1870 Council of Assiniboia Governor of Red River Colony and Assiniboia District Governor-in-Council
1870–1876 Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Legislative Council of Manitoba Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories Legislature of Manitoba
1876–1905 Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and Keewatin
1905–present Lieutenant governor of Manitoba
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
New Brunswick
1763–1784 See Nova Scotia.
1784–1891 Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Legislative Council of New Brunswick Lieutenant governor of New Brunswick New Brunswick Legislature
1891–present
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Newfoundland and Labrador
1655–1713 Governor of Plaisance
1713–1770 Lieutenant Governor of Placentia
1770–1825 — (see Commodore-Governor)
1825–1833 Governor of Newfoundland
1833–1934 Newfoundland House of Assembly Legislative Council of Newfoundland General Assembly of Newfoundland
1934–1949 Commission of Government Governor-in-Council
1949–present* Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador

* Labrador was added to the name of the province in 2001. Before then, the bodies were the Newfoundland House of Assembly, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, and General Assembly of Newfoundland.

Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Northwest Territories
1670–1821 Governor of Rupert's Land
1821–1839 Governor of Rupert's Land Northern Department
1839–1870 Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land
1870–1876 Temporary North-West Council Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and the North-West Territories Governor-in-Council
1876–1888 1st Council of the Northwest Territories Lieutenant governor of the North-West Territories
1888–1905 North-West Legislative Assembly
1905–1951 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories Governor General of Canada as represented by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Commissioner-in-Council
1951–2014 Legislative Council of the Northwest Territories
2014–present Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Legislature of the Northwest Territories
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Nova Scotia
1603–1713 Governor of Acadia
1713–1720 Governor of Nova Scotia and Placentia
1720–1758 Nova Scotia Council Governor-in-Council
1758–1786 Nova Scotia House of Assembly Governor of Nova Scotia General Assembly of Nova Scotia
1786-1838 Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
1838–1928 Legislative Council of Nova Scotia
1928–present
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Nunavut
1670–1999 See Northwest Territories.
1999–present Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Governor General of Canada as represented by the Commissioner of Nunavut Legislature of Nunavut
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Ontario
1627–1791 See Quebec.
1791–1841 Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada Legislative Council of Upper Canada Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada Parliament of Upper Canada
1841–1867 See Province of Canada.
1867–present Legislative Assembly of Ontario Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Parliament of Ontario
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Prince Edward Island
1763–1769 See Nova Scotia.
1769–1786 House of Assembly of Prince Edward Island Legislative Council of Prince Edward Island[18] Governor of St. John's Island General Assembly of Prince Edward Island
1786-1893* Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
1893–present Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island

* The territory's name was changed from St. John's Island to Prince Edward Island in 1798. Before then, the bodies were the House of Assembly of the Island of St. John, Legislative Council of the Island of St. John, Lieutenant Governor of the Island of St. John, and General Assembly of the Island of St. John.

Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Quebec
1627–1763 Governor of New France
1763–1791 Council for the Affairs of the Province of Quebec Governor of the Province of Quebec Governor-in-Council
1791–1838 Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada Legislative Council of Lower Canada Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada Parliament of Lower Canada
1838–1841 Special Council of Lower Canada Governor-in-Council
1841–1867 See Province of Canada.
1867–1968 Legislative Assembly of Quebec Legislative Council of Quebec Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Parliament of Quebec
1968–present National Assembly of Quebec
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Saskatchewan
1670–1905 See Northwest Territories.
1905–present Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Legislature of Saskatchewan
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Yukon
????–1898 See Northwest Territories.
1898–1909 Yukon Territorial Council Governor General of Canada as represented by the Commissioner of Yukon Commissioner-in-Council
1909–1978 Yukon Territorial Council
1978–2002 Yukon Legislative Assembly
2002–present Legislature of Yukon

Past assemblies of former territories and colonies[edit]

Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Colony of British Columbia (mainland)
1858–1866 Colonial Assembly of British Columbia Governor of the Colony of British Columbia Governor-in-Council
1866–present See British Columbia.
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Colony of Cape Breton
1784–1820 Cape Breton Council Lieutenant Governor of Cape Breton Governor-in-Council
1820–present See Nova Scotia.
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
District of Keewatin
1670–1876 See Northwest Territories.
1876–1877 Council of Keewatin Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and Keewatin Governor-in-Council
1877–1905
1905–1999 See Northwest Territories.
1999–present See Nunavut.
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Province of Canada
1627–1791 See Quebec.
1791–1841 See Ontario and Quebec.
1841–1867 Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada Legislative Council of the Province of Canada Governor General of the Province of Canada Parliament of the Province of Canada
1867–1968 See Ontario and Quebec.
Period Lower house Upper house Viceroy Parliament
Colony of Vancouver Island
1849–1855 Legislative Council of Vancouver Island Governor of Vancouver Island Governor-in-Council
1855–1866 House of Assembly of Vancouver Island Legislature of Vancouver Island
1866–present See British Columbia.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k In French: Assemblée législative.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m In French: Premier ministre (masculine) or Première ministre (feminine).
  3. ^ In French: Assemblée nationale.
  4. ^ 10 other official names: Assemblée législative des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (French), Beba Ɂełígíth Ɂeła Déłtth’ı Kų́é (Chipewyan), ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᑦ (Inuktitut), K'áowe gogha ełek'éterewe ke łénakedé (North Slavey), Gogha Sombaa Nálée (South Slavey), Ek’ètehtsodǫ Łegehdı̀ Kǫ̀ (Tlicho), Ihumiurviat Malirutaliatigun (Inuinnaqtun), Dagwidįį'è' Tr'igwahtsii Geenjit Nadhat Kat" (Gwichʼin), Legislative Assemblitkut (Inuvialuktun).
  5. ^ In Inuktut: ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᐊ.
  6. ^ In Inuktut: ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ.
  7. ^ In Haida: X̱aaydaG̱a Waadlux̱an Naay.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Legislative Assembly of Alberta". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  2. ^ "WELCOME to the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY of BRITISH COLUMBIA". www.leg.bc.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  3. ^ "The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba". www.gov.mb.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  4. ^ "New Brunswick's Legislative Assembly Donald Desserud; Stewart Hyson – Canadian Parliamentary Review- La Revue parlementaire canadienne". 5 May 2012. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  5. ^ "House of Assembly - Newfoundland and Labrador". www.assembly.nl.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  6. ^ "Nova Scotia Legislature". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  7. ^ "Home page". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  8. ^ "Home | Legislative Assembly". www.assembly.pe.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. ^ "Home - National Assembly of Québec". www.assnat.qc.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  10. ^ "Home - National Assembly of Québec". www.assnat.qc.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  11. ^ "Home | Legislative Assembly of The Northwest Territories". www.ntassembly.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  12. ^ "Nunavut Legislative Assembly". assembly.nu.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  13. ^ "Yukon Legislative Assembly | Yukon Legislative Assembly". yukonassembly.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  14. ^ "Council of the Haida Nation". 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  15. ^ "Executive | Nisga'a Lisims Government". www.nisgaanation.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  16. ^ "Home". Nunatsiavut Government. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  17. ^ "Assembly". Tłı̨chǫ Government. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  18. ^ The Legislative Council was an elected body from 1862 to 1893. "Elections PEI: Provincial Electoral Reform". Government of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 2008-10-18.