Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Speaker
for the House of Assembly
of Nova Scotia
is the presiding Officer
of the House of Assembly. Gordie Gosse
is the current Speaker of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia
.
The Speaker presides over the proceedings of the Assembly, maintains order, regulates debate in accordance with the rules and practices of the House, and ensures that all viewpoints have the opportunity of a hearing.
The Speaker does not take part in the debates of the Assembly and only takes part in a vote to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. He is the guardian of the privileges of the Assembly and protects the rights of its Members.
The Speaker is the only representative of the House of Assembly. The Speaker has jurisdiction and day to day control over all matters concerning Province House, including operations, maintenance and restoration, and administration of the adjacent office complexes at One Government Place, the George Building, and the Provincial Building. The Speaker is the Chair of the Legislature Internal Economy Board, the body responsible for regulating services to Members.
In the House, Speaker decides questions of order and rules on questions of privilege after allowing appropriate debate. Decisions of the Speaker are not debatable or subject to appeal except by a substantive motion after proper notice has been given.
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
for the House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
is the presiding Officer
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the House of Assembly. Gordie Gosse
Gordie Gosse
Gordie Gosse is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the electoral district of Cape Breton Nova for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
is the current Speaker of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia
61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia
61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia is the current assembly of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly that was determined in the 2009 Nova Scotia election.The first session of the General Assembly last between 25 June 2009 to 25 March 2010...
.
The Speaker presides over the proceedings of the Assembly, maintains order, regulates debate in accordance with the rules and practices of the House, and ensures that all viewpoints have the opportunity of a hearing.
The Speaker does not take part in the debates of the Assembly and only takes part in a vote to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. He is the guardian of the privileges of the Assembly and protects the rights of its Members.
The Speaker is the only representative of the House of Assembly. The Speaker has jurisdiction and day to day control over all matters concerning Province House, including operations, maintenance and restoration, and administration of the adjacent office complexes at One Government Place, the George Building, and the Provincial Building. The Speaker is the Chair of the Legislature Internal Economy Board, the body responsible for regulating services to Members.
In the House, Speaker decides questions of order and rules on questions of privilege after allowing appropriate debate. Decisions of the Speaker are not debatable or subject to appeal except by a substantive motion after proper notice has been given.
Speakers of the House of Assembly
- Robert SandersonRobert Sanderson (politician)Robert Sanderson was a merchant, ship owner and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia....
(1758-1759) - William NesbittWilliam NesbittWilliam Nesbitt was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia. He served as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1758 to 1783....
(1759-1784) - Thomas CochranThomas Cochran (Nova Scotia politician)Thomas Cochran was an Irish-born merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Liverpool township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1775 to 1785....
(1784-1785) - Sampson Salter BlowersSampson Salter BlowersSampson Salter Blowers was a noted North American lawyer and jurist.He was born in Boston, the son of John Blowers and Sarah Salter, but was raised by his maternal grandfather, Sampson Salter, after the death of his parents. He was educated in Boston and at Harvard College, then went on to study law...
(1785-1789) - Richard John UniackeRichard John UniackeRichard John Uniacke was a lawyer, politician, member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly and Attorney General of Nova Scotia....
(1789-1793) - Thomas Henry BarclayThomas Henry BarclayThomas Henry Barclay was an American lawyer who became one of the United Empire Loyalists in Nova Scotia and served in the colony's government....
(1793-1799) - Richard John UniackeRichard John UniackeRichard John Uniacke was a lawyer, politician, member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly and Attorney General of Nova Scotia....
(1799-1805) 2nd time - William Cottnam TongeWilliam Cottnam TongeWilliam Cottnam Tonge was a judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Hants County from 1793 to 1799 and from 1806 to 1811 and Newport township from 1799 to 1806 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
(1805-1806) - Morris WilkinsLewis Morris Wilkins (speaker)Lewis Morris Wilkins was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Lunenburg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1799 to 1817...
, Conservative, (1806-1818) - Simon Bradstreet RobieSimon Bradstreet RobieSimon Bradstreet Robie was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township from 1799 to 1806 and Halifax County from 1806 to 1826 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, Conservative, (1818-1824) - Samuel George William ArchibaldSamuel George William ArchibaldSamuel George William Archibald was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax County from 1806 to 1836 and Colchester County from 1836 to 1841 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, Reformer, (1824-1840) - Joseph HoweJoseph HoweJoseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
, Reformer, (1840-1843) - William YoungWilliam Young (politician)Sir William Young, KCB was a Nova Scotia politician and jurist.Born in Falkirk, the son of John Young and Agnes Renny, Young was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1836 as a Reformer and, as a lawyer, defended Reform journalists accused of libel...
, Reformer, (1843-1855) - Stewart Campbell, Liberal, (1855-1863)
- John Chipman WadeJohn Chipman WadeJohn Chipman Wade was a Canadian politician and lawyer who served in both the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and the Canadian House of Commons....
, Conservative, (1863-1867) - John Joseph MarshallJohn Joseph MarshallJohn Joseph Marshall was a merchant and politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Guysborough County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1840 to 1847, from 1850 to 1859 and from 1867 to 1870....
, Conservative, (1867-1870) - Jared C. TroopJared C. TroopJared Chipman Troop was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Annapolis County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1867 to 1874....
, Reformer, Anti-Confederate, (1870-1874) - John Barnhill DickieJohn Barnhill DickieJohn Barnhill Dickie was a farmer, teacher and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Colchester County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1874 to 1878 as an independent member....
, Liberal, (1874-1875) - Mather Byles DesBrisayMather Byles DesBrisayMather Byles DesBrisay was a Canadian lawyer, judge, politician, and historian in the Province of Nova Scotia whose collections form the DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia....
, Liberal, (1875-1876) - Isaac N. MackIsaac N. MackIsaac Newton Mack was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Queen's County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1874 to 1878 as a Liberal member....
, Liberal, (1877-1878) - Ebenezer Tilton MoseleyEbenezer Tilton MoseleyEbenezer Tilton Moseley was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cape Breton County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1874 to 1882 as a Liberal-Conservative member....
, Liberal-Conservative, (1878-1882) - Angus McGillivrayAngus McGillivrayAngus McGillivray was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Antigonish County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as a Liberal member from 1878 to 1891 and from 1895 to 1902....
, Liberal, (1882-1886) - Michael Joseph PowerMichael Joseph PowerMichael Joseph Power was a businessman and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1882 to 1894 as a Liberal member....
, Liberal, (1886-1894) - Frederick Andrew LaurenceFrederick Andrew LaurenceFrederick Andrew Laurence was a Canadian politician.Born in Port Hood, Nova Scotia, Laurence was educated at the Provincial Normal School of Nova Scotia and at Dalhousie University. A lawyer, he ran unsuccessfully as the Liberal candidate for the Canadian House of Commons for the electoral...
, Liberal, (1894-1901) - Thomas RobertsonThomas Robertson (Nova Scotia politician)Thomas Robertson was a Canadian civil servant, entrepreneur and politician. Robertson was a Liberal member of Parliament for the electoral district of Shelburne in the Canadian House of Commons from 1878 to 1887, a Nova Scotia Liberal member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1894 to 1902,...
, Liberal, (1902-1903) - Frederick Andrew LaurenceFrederick Andrew LaurenceFrederick Andrew Laurence was a Canadian politician.Born in Port Hood, Nova Scotia, Laurence was educated at the Provincial Normal School of Nova Scotia and at Dalhousie University. A lawyer, he ran unsuccessfully as the Liberal candidate for the Canadian House of Commons for the electoral...
, Liberal, (1903-1904) - Edward Matthew FarrellEdward Matthew FarrellEdward Matthew Farrell was a Canadian printer, publisher, and politician from the province of Nova Scotia....
, Liberal, (1905-1911) - James F. EllisJames F. EllisJames Fraser Ellis was a physician and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Guysborough County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1904 to 1920 as a Liberal member....
, Liberal, (1912-1917) - Robert IrwinRobert Irwin (Lieutenant-Governor)Robert Irwin was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Shelburne County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1906 to 1925 as a Liberal member...
, Liberal, (1917-1925) - Albert ParsonsAlbert Parsons (politician)Albert E. Parsons was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Hants County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1909 to 1937 as a Liberal-Conservative member....
, Liberal-Conservative, (1926-1928) - Daniel George McKenzieDaniel George McKenzieDaniel George McKenzie was a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cumberland County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1920 to 1933 as a United Farmers and then Liberal-Conservative member.He was born in Malagash, Nova Scotia, the son of Donald McKenzie...
, Liberal-Conservative, (1929-1933) - Lindsay C. GardnerLindsay C. GardnerLindsay Cann Gardner was a druggist and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Yarmouth County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1928 to 1938 as a Liberal member....
, Liberal, (1934-1938) - Moses Elijah McGarryMoses Elijah McGarryMoses Elijah McGarry was a physician and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Inverness in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1928 to 1940 and Inverness—Richmond in the Canadian House of Commons from 1940 to 1949 as a Liberal member.He was born in Harvard Lakes, Nova Scotia,...
, Liberal, (1939-1940) - Gordon E. RomkeyGordon E. RomkeyGordon Emerson Romkey was a general merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Lunenburg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1928 to 1953 as a Liberal member....
, Liberal, (1940-1953) - John Smith MacIvorJohn Smith MacIvorJohn Smith MacIvor was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cape Breton South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1945 to 1956 as a Liberal member....
, Liberal, (1954-1956) - W. S. Kennedy JonesW. S. Kennedy JonesWalter Selby Kennedy Jones was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Queens in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1953 to 1971 as a Progressive Conservative member....
, Progressive Conservative, (1957-1960) - Harvey VeniotHarvey VeniotHarvey Alfred Veniot was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Pictou West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1956 to 1974 as a Progressive Conservative member....
, Progressive Conservative, (1961-1968) - G. H. (Paddy) FitzgeraldGordon H. FitzgeraldGordon H. Fitzgerald is a former Nova Scotia politician and former Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, Progressive Conservative, (1969-1970) - George M. MitchellGeorge M. MitchellGeorge MacGregor Mitchell is a lawyer and former political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax Cornwallis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1970 to 1978 as a Liberal....
, Liberal, (1970-1973) - James L. ConnollyJames L. ConnollyJames L. Connolly was a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 1970 provincial election. He represented the electoral district of Halifax Chebucto as a member of the Liberals....
, Liberal, (1973-1974) - Vincent MacLeanVincent MacLeanVincent James MacLean was leader of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia in 1985 and again from 1986 to 1992. He was replaced by John Savage....
, Liberal, (1974-1976) - George DoucetGeorge DoucetGeorge Raymond Doucet is a former high school principal and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax Cobequid in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1974 to 1978 as a Liberal....
, Liberal, (1977-1978) - Ronald RussellRon RussellRonald S. Russell is a former politician and pilot living in Nova Scotia, Canada.Russell was a pilot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War, and later joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Russell was educated at the Ryerson Institute of Technology and Queen's University...
(1978-1980), Progressive Conservative, 1st time - Arthur R. Donahoe, Progressive Conservative, (1981-1991)
- Ronald RussellRon RussellRonald S. Russell is a former politician and pilot living in Nova Scotia, Canada.Russell was a pilot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War, and later joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Russell was educated at the Ryerson Institute of Technology and Queen's University...
, Progressive Conservative, (1991-1993) 2nd time - Paul MacEwanPaul MacEwanPaul MacEwan is a former politician in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, and long-time member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Biography:...
, Liberal, (1993-1996) - Wayne GaudetWayne GaudetWayne Gaudet is a Canadian politician. He currently represents the electoral district of Clare in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party....
, Liberal, (1996-1997) - Gerry FogartyGerry FogartyGerry Fogarty is a former sportscaster and politician. He was the last Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia to be appointed by the Premier rather than elected by his peers....
, Liberal, (1997-1998) - Ronald RussellRon RussellRonald S. Russell is a former politician and pilot living in Nova Scotia, Canada.Russell was a pilot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War, and later joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Russell was educated at the Ryerson Institute of Technology and Queen's University...
, Progressive Conservative, (1998-1999) 3rd time - Murray ScottMurray ScottMurray K. Scott is a politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented the electoral district of Cumberland South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2010...
, Progressive Conservative, (1999-2006) - Cecil ClarkeCecil ClarkeCecil Phillip Clarke is a politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented the riding of Cape Breton North in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, from 2001 to 2011...
, Progressive Conservative, (2006-2007) - Alfie MacLeodAlfie MacLeodAlfie MacLeod is a Canadian politician. He currently represents the electoral district of Cape Breton West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
, Progressive Conservative, (2007-2009) - Charlie ParkerCharlie Parker (politician)C. L. Parker is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Pictou West for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
, New Democratic Party, (2009-2011) - Gordie GosseGordie GosseGordie Gosse is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the electoral district of Cape Breton Nova for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
, New Democratic Party, (2011- )