Parliament of British Columbia | |
---|---|
43rd Parliament of British Columbia | |
Type | |
Type | |
Houses | Legislative Assembly |
Sovereign | The lieutenant governor (representing the King of Canada) |
History | |
Founded | July 20, 1871 |
Preceded by | Governor-in-Council of the United Colony of British Columbia |
Leadership | |
Charles III September 8, 2022 | |
Janet Austin April 24, 2018 | |
The Parliament of British Columbia is made of two elements: the lieutenant governor (representing the King of Canada), and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (which meets at the British Columbia Parliament Buildings). The Parliament of British Columbia has existed since the province joined Canada in 1871, before which it was preceded by the Parliament of the United Colony of British Columbia.
Like the Canadian federal government, British Columbia uses a Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which members are sent to the Legislative Assembly after general elections and from there the party with the most seats chooses a premier of British Columbia and the Executive Council of British Columbia. The premier is British Columbia's head of government, while the King of Canada is its head of state and is represented by the lieutenant governor. Before 1903, candidates in British Columbia elections were not affiliated with political parties.
Following is a list of the 42 times the Parliament has been convened since 1871. This article only covers the time since 1871. For the governing body from 1867 to 1871, see Legislative Council of British Columbia.
Edward Gawler Prior, was a mining engineer and politician in British Columbia.
The leader of the Opposition in British Columbia is the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This position generally goes to the leader of the largest party in the Legislative Assembly that is not in government.
The Politics of British Columbia involve not only the governance of British Columbia, Canada, and the various political factions that have held or vied for legislative power, but also a number of experiments or attempts at political and electoral reform.
The 9th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1900 to 1903. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in June 1900. James Dunsmuir served as Premier until he resigned in November 21, 1902. Dunsmuir was succeeded by Edward Gawler Prior, who was dismissed by the lieutenant governor for conflict of interest. Richard McBride became Premier in June 1903.
The 10th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1903 to 1906. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in October 1903. This election was the first in British Columbia to be contested by competing political parties. The British Columbia Conservative Party led by Richard McBride, having won the majority of seats, formed the government.
The 14th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1917 to 1920. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in September 1916. The British Columbia Liberal Party, led by Harlan Carey Brewster, formed the government. Following Brewster's death in March 1918, John Oliver became Premier.
The 19th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1937 to 1941. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in June 1937. The Liberal Party, led by Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, formed the government. The Conservative Party formed the official opposition.
The 23rd Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from February 1953 to March 1953. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in June 1952. The Social Credit Party led by W. A. C. Bennett formed the government. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation led by Harold Winch formed the official opposition.
The 24th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from September 1953 to 1956. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in June 1953. The Social Credit Party led by W. A. C. Bennett formed the government. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation led by Arnold Webster formed the official opposition.
The 25th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1957 to 1960. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in September 1956. The Social Credit Party led by W. A. C. Bennett formed the government. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) led by Robert Strachan formed the official opposition.
The 28th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1967 to 1969. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in September 1966. The Social Credit Party led by W. A. C. Bennett formed the government. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Robert Strachan formed the official opposition.
The 29th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1970 to 1972. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in August 1969. The Social Credit Party led by W. A. C. Bennett formed the government. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Dave Barrett formed the official opposition.
The 30th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1972 to 1975. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in August 1972. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Dave Barrett formed the government. The Social Credit Party led by W. A. C. Bennett formed the official opposition. Bill Bennett was elected Social Credit party leader in November 1973 after his father resigned his seat in the assembly in June 1973.
The 31st Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1976 to 1979. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in December 1975. The Social Credit Party led by Bill Bennett formed the government. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by William Stewart King formed the official opposition. Dave Barrett had lost his seat in the election; he was reelected in a by-election held in June 1976 and resumed his role as party leader.
The 32nd Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1979 to 1983. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in May 1979. The Social Credit Party led by Bill Bennett formed the government. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Dave Barrett formed the official opposition.
The 33rd Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1983 to 1986. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in May 1983. The Social Credit Party led by Bill Bennett formed the government. After Bennett retired in 1986, Bill Vander Zalm became Premier. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Dave Barrett formed the official opposition. After Barrett resigned his seat in 1984, Bob Skelly became party leader.
The 34th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1987 to 1991. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in October 1986. The Social Credit Party led by Bill Vander Zalm formed the government. Vander Zalm resigned in 1991 after he was found to have put himself into a conflict of interest; Rita Johnston then became Premier. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Bob Skelly formed the official opposition.
The 36th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia sat from 1996 to 2001. The members were elected in the British Columbia general election held in May 1996. The New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Glen Clark formed the government. Clark resigned as premier in August 1999; Dan Miller served as interim premier until a leadership election was held in February 2000 where Ujjal Dosanjh became party leader and premier. The Liberals led by Gordon Campbell formed the official opposition.