Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the presiding officer of the British Columbia
legislature
.
is elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly ("MLAs") by means of a secret ballot at the commencement of a new parliament
, or on the death or retirement of the previous Speaker. Cabinet Ministers
are the only MLAs not entitled to vote. The business of the Legislature cannot continue without a Speaker. Under British Columbia's parliamentary tradition, the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia will not open Parliament until a Speaker is elected.
Prior practice had been for the Premier
to select the Speaker and have that selection ratified by a vote of the legislature. The Legislative Assembly also appoints a Deputy Speaker, who presides in the absence of the Speaker. During the 38th Parliament, which was elected in the BC general election
held on May 17, 2005, the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker was created. This office is usually held by an MLA who represents the official opposition
party.
Traditionally, the Speaker has been a member of the governing party; however, while holding the office of Speaker that MLA must act neutrally and treat all other MLAs impartially. The Speaker presides over the debates and procedures of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker enforces the Rules of Procedure, commonly referred to as the Standing Orders. Any disputes or procedural rulings are made according to the Standing Orders or, in absence of a rule governing a specific situation, to parliamentary precedence and convention. The Speaker does not vote, except in the case of a tie.
Until the early 1990s, the traditional form of address and reference to the Speaker was "Mr. Speaker". Today, the office holder is now referred to as simply the "Speaker", but during debates the MLAs may continue to address the office holder as "Mr. Speaker" or "Madam Speaker". In accordance with parliamentary tradition, all speeches are addressed to the Speaker, and not the other MLAs.
The Speaker is responsible for the legislative precincts, including the Parliament Buildings
. The Speaker also sponsors the British Columbia Legislative Internship Program. In addition to his or her duties as Speaker, the Speaker continues to represent the voters of his or her constituency as an MLA.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
legislature
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
.
The office of Speaker in British Columbia
The SpeakerSpeaker (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...
is elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly ("MLAs") by means of a secret ballot at the commencement of a new parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, or on the death or retirement of the previous Speaker. Cabinet Ministers
Executive Council of British Columbia
The Executive Council of British Columbia is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
are the only MLAs not entitled to vote. The business of the Legislature cannot continue without a Speaker. Under British Columbia's parliamentary tradition, the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia will not open Parliament until a Speaker is elected.
Prior practice had been for the Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
to select the Speaker and have that selection ratified by a vote of the legislature. The Legislative Assembly also appoints a Deputy Speaker, who presides in the absence of the Speaker. During the 38th Parliament, which was elected in the BC general election
British Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
held on May 17, 2005, the position of Assistant Deputy Speaker was created. This office is usually held by an MLA who represents the official opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
party.
Traditionally, the Speaker has been a member of the governing party; however, while holding the office of Speaker that MLA must act neutrally and treat all other MLAs impartially. The Speaker presides over the debates and procedures of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker enforces the Rules of Procedure, commonly referred to as the Standing Orders. Any disputes or procedural rulings are made according to the Standing Orders or, in absence of a rule governing a specific situation, to parliamentary precedence and convention. The Speaker does not vote, except in the case of a tie.
Until the early 1990s, the traditional form of address and reference to the Speaker was "Mr. Speaker". Today, the office holder is now referred to as simply the "Speaker", but during debates the MLAs may continue to address the office holder as "Mr. Speaker" or "Madam Speaker". In accordance with parliamentary tradition, all speeches are addressed to the Speaker, and not the other MLAs.
The Speaker is responsible for the legislative precincts, including the Parliament Buildings
British Columbia Parliament Buildings
The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and are home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia....
. The Speaker also sponsors the British Columbia Legislative Internship Program. In addition to his or her duties as Speaker, the Speaker continues to represent the voters of his or her constituency as an MLA.
Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- James TrimbleJames Trimble (Canadian politician)James Trimble was an Irish-born physician and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Victoria City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1871 to 1878....
(Independent) (1872–1878) - Frederick W. Williams (Independent) (1878–1882)
- John Andrew MaraJohn Andrew MaraJohn Andrew Mara was a Canadian merchant, rancher and a politician at both the provincial and federal levels....
(Independent) (1883–1886) - Charles Edward PooleyCharles Edward PooleyCharles Edward Pooley was a lawyer and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Esquimalt in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1882 to 1906 as a Conservative....
(Independent) (1887–1889) - David Williams HigginsDavid Williams HigginsDavid Williams Higgins was a Canadian journalist, politician, and author.Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of William B. Higgins and Mary Anne Williams, Higgins moved to Brooklyn with his parents and was educated there...
(Independent) (1890–1898) - John Paton BoothJohn Paton BoothJohn Paton Booth was a Scottish-born political figure in British Columbia. He represented Cowichan from 1871 to 1875, The Islands from 1890 to 1894 and North Victoria from 1894 to 1902 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.He came to Guelph, Ontario at a young age, was educated in...
(Independent) (1898) - William Thomas ForsterWilliam Thomas ForsterWilliam Thomas Forster was an English-born farmer and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Nanaimo from 1890 to 1894 and Westminster-Delta from 1894 to 1900 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. His name also appears as Thomas William Forster and Thomas Forster.He...
(1899–1900) - John Paton BoothJohn Paton BoothJohn Paton Booth was a Scottish-born political figure in British Columbia. He represented Cowichan from 1871 to 1875, The Islands from 1890 to 1894 and North Victoria from 1894 to 1902 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.He came to Guelph, Ontario at a young age, was educated in...
(Independent) (1900–1902) - Charles Edward Pooley (Independent)) (1902–1903)
- Charles Edward Pooley (ConservativeBritish Columbia Conservative PartyThe British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...
) (1903–1906) - David McEwen EbertsDavid McEwen EbertsDavid McEwen Eberts was a lawyer and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Victoria from 1890 to 1894, South Victoria from 1894 to 1903 and Saanich from 1907 to 1916 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a Conservative.He was born in Chatham, Ontario, the son of...
(Conservative) (1907–1916) - John Walter WeartJohn Walter WeartJohn Walter Weart was a lawyer, businessman and political figure in British Columbia. He represented South Vancouver in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1916 to 1920 as a Liberal....
(LiberalBritish Columbia Liberal PartyThe British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
) (1917–1918) - John Keen (Liberal) (1918–1920)
- Alexander Malcolm MansonAlexander Malcolm MansonAlexander Malcolm Manson was a British Columbia judge and politician in the Liberal Party. Positions he held included Speaker, Minister of Labour and Attorney General. He was later appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia....
(Liberal) (1921–1922) - Frederick Arthur PaulineFrederick Arthur PaulineFrederick Arthur Pauline was an English-born merchant and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Saanich in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1916 to 1924 as a Liberal....
(Liberal) (1922–1924) - John Andrew BuckhamJohn Andrew BuckhamJohn Andrew Buckham was a druggist and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented the riding of Columbia in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1916 to 1933 as a Liberal....
(Liberal) (1924 - 1928) - James William JonesJames William JonesJames William Jones was a merchant, realtor and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented South Okanagan from 1916 to 1933 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a Conservative....
(Conservative) (1929–1930) - Cyril Francis DavieCyril Francis DavieCyril Francis Davie was a lawyer and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Cowichan-Newcastle in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1924 to 1933 as a Conservative....
(ConservativeBritish Columbia Conservative PartyThe British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...
) (1931–1933) - Henry George Thomas PerryHenry George Thomas PerryHenry George Thomas "Harry" Perry was an English-born real estate and insurance broker, journalist and political figure in British Columbia, Canada...
(Liberal) (1934–1937) - Norman William WhittakerNorman William WhittakerNorman William Whittaker was a lawyer, judge and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Saanich in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1947 as a Liberal member....
(Liberal) (1937–1941) - Norman William WhittakerNorman William WhittakerNorman William Whittaker was a lawyer, judge and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Saanich in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1947 as a Liberal member....
(Coalition) (1941–1947) - Robert Henry CarsonRobert Henry CarsonRobert Henry Carson was a life insurance agent and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Kamloops in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1949 as a Liberal then Liberal-Conservative Coalition member.He was born on Pavilion Farm, British Columbia, the son...
(Coalition) (1948–1949) - John Hart (Coalition) (1949)
- Nancy HodgesNancy HodgesNancy Hodges was a Canadian journalist, politician and Senator.Born in London, England, she was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1941 representing the riding of Victoria City and sitting as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party. She was re-elected in 1945...
(Coalition) (1950–1952) - Thomas IrwinThomas Irwin (Canadian politician)Thomas James Irwin was a Canadian politician serving in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and the Canadian House of Commons....
(Social CreditBritish Columbia Social Credit PartyThe British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...
) (1953–1957) - Lorne Hugh ShantzLorne Hugh ShantzLorne Hugh Shantz is a former politician in British Columbia, Canada. He represented North Okanagan in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1963 as a Social Credit member....
(Social Credit) (1958–1963) - William Harvey MurrayWilliam Harvey MurrayWilliam Harvey Murray is a former political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Prince Rupert in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1956 to 1975 as a Social Credit member....
(Social Credit) (1964–1972) - Gordon Hudson DowdingGordon Hudson DowdingGordon Hudson Dowding was a lawyer and politician in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Burnaby and then Burnaby-Edmonds in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1956 to 1975 as a CCF/NDP member....
(NDP) (1972–1975) - Dean SmithDean Smith (politician)Dean Edward Smith is a former political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Peace River North in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1966 to 1979 as a Social Credit member....
(Social Credit) (1976–1978) - Harvey Wilfred SchroederHarvey Wilfred SchroederHarvey Wilfred Schroeder is a former businessman and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Chilliwack in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1972 to 1986 as a Social Credit member....
(Social Credit) (1979–1982) - Kenneth Walter DavidsonKenneth Walter DavidsonKenneth Walter Davidson is a former political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Delta in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1975 to 1991 as a Social Credit member....
(Social Credit) (1982–1986) - John Douglas ReynoldsJohn Reynolds (Canadian politician)John Douglas Reynolds, PC was the Member of Parliament for the riding of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2006...
(Social Credit) (1987–1989) - Charles Stephen RogersStephen Rogers (politician)Stephen Rogers was a British Columbia politician and Cabinet minister from 1975 to 1991. Rogers ran for the leadership of the British Columbia Social Credit Party in the 1986 leadership race, but lost to Bill Vander Zalm....
(Social Credit) (1990–1991) - Joan SawickiJoan SawickiJoan Marie Sawicki is a former Canadian politician. She served as MLA for the Burnaby-Willingdon riding in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1991 to 2001, as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party....
(NDP) (1992–1994) - Emery Oakland BarnesEmery BarnesEmery Barnes, OBC was a Canadian football player and Canadian politician.Born in Louisiana and raised in Oregon, Barnes was a gifted athlete, and was an alternate hi-jumper for the 1952 US Olympic Track and Field team...
(NDP) (1994–1996) - Laurence Dale Lovick (NDP) (1996–1998)
- Gretchen Mann BrewinGretchen BrewinGretchen Brewin was elected as Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in November 1985 and served until 1990. She was the first female mayor in the city's history.She served as a NDP MLA for the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill from 1991 to 2001....
(NDP) (1998–2000) - William James HartleyWilliam James HartleyWilliam James "Bill" Hartley is a former child care worker, restaurant owner and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1991 to 2001 as a member of the NDP...
(NDP)(2000–2001) - Claude RichmondClaude RichmondClaude Richmond is a former BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. He represented the riding of Kamloops from 1981 to 1991 and from 2001 to 2009....
(Liberal) (2001–2005) - Bill BarisoffBill BarisoffBill Barisoff is a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Born in Oliver, he represents the riding of Penticton, which he has held since 1996, when he defeated former MLA Bill Barlee by a narrow margin....
(Liberal) (2005–present)
External links
- Welcome Message from The Speaker (from the British Columbia Legislative Assembly website).