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.
Territory | Legislature name | Assembly name | Location | First minister | Members | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwest Territories | Legislature (List) | Legislative Assembly [lower-alpha 4] | Yellowknife | Premier [lower-alpha 2] | 19 MLAs | [11] |
Nunavut | Legislature (List) | Legislative Assembly [lower-alpha 5] [lower-alpha 1] | Iqaluit | Premier [lower-alpha 6] [lower-alpha 2] | 22 MLAs | [12] |
Yukon | Legislature | Legislative Assembly [lower-alpha 1] | Whitehorse | Premier [lower-alpha 2] | 19 MLAs | [13] |
Area | Legislature name | Location | First minister | Members | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Haida Nation | Council [lower-alpha 7] | 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] |
In the table below, the parties with shading form part of the provincial government whilst the parties in bold have official party status.
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 [lower-alpha 8] | 8 | - | - | Yukon 8 | - | 2021 | 40th |
Nunavut | 22 (12) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 | 2021 | 7th |
Period | Lower house | Upper house | Viceroy | Parliament |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
????–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 |
Period | Lower house | Upper house | Viceroy | Parliament |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
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