View source for Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

{{Short description|Deliberative assembly of the Legislature of British Columbia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name              = Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
| log_pic           = 
| log_res           = 
| coa_pic           = BCLegislature.png
| coa_res           = 150px
| legislature       = [[43rd Parliament of British Columbia]]
| session_room      = BC Legislature Buildings.jpg
| house_type        = Unicameral house
| body              = Legislature of British Columbia
| crown-in-parl     = The [[Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia|lieutenant governor]] (representing the [[King of Canada]])
| foundation        = {{Start date|1871|7|20}}
| preceded_by       = [[Legislative Council of British Columbia|Legislative Council]]
| leader1_type      = [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|Speaker]]
| leader1           = [[Raj Chouhan]]
| party1            = 
| election1         = 
| leader2_type      = [[Premier of British Columbia|Premier]]
| leader2           = [[David Eby]]
| party2            = [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|NDP]]
| election2         = November 18, 2022
| leader3_type      = [[Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| leader3           = [[John Rustad]]
| party3            = [[Conservative Party of British Columbia|Conservative]]
| election3         = November 12, 2024
| leader4_type      = [[Government House Leader (British Columbia)|Government House leader]]
| leader4           = [[Mike Farnworth]]
| party4            = [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|NDP]]
| election4         = November 18, 2024
| leader5_type      = Opposition House leader
| leader5           = [[Á'a:líya Warbus]]
| party5            = [[Conservative Party of British Columbia|Conservative]]
| election5         = November 20, 2024
| members           = 93
| structure1        = Legislative Assembly of British Columbia - Seating Chart by Party.svg
| structure1_res    = 300px
| political_groups1 = 
'''His Majesty's Government'''
* {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP}}|border=darkgray}} [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democratic]] (47)
'''[[Confidence and supply]]'''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-poli-ndp-greens-cooperation-agreement-1.7409999 |last=Larsen |first=Karen |title=B.C. NDP and B.C. Greens announce co-operation agreement |work=[[CBC News]] |date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=December 14, 2024 |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213235413/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-poli-ndp-greens-cooperation-agreement-1.7409999 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|BC|Green}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of British Columbia|Green]] (2)
'''[[Parliamentary opposition|His Majesty's Loyal Opposition]]'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Opposition |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/mlas/opposition |website=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref>
* {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|BC|Conservative}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party of British Columbia|Conservative]] (39)
'''Other parties'''
* {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|BC|One BC}}|border=darkgray}} [[OneBC (political party)|OneBC]] (2)
* {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|Independent}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (3)
| next_election1    = [[44th British Columbia general election|On or before October 21, 2028]]
| last_election1    = [[2024 British Columbia general election|October 19, 2024]]
| meeting_place     = [[British Columbia Parliament Buildings|Parliament Buildings]], [[Victoria, British Columbia]], Canada
| website           = {{URL|https://www.leg.bc.ca/}}
}}
The '''Legislative Assembly of British Columbia''' ({{langx|fr|Assemblée législative de la Colombie-Britannique}}) is the [[deliberative assembly]] of the [[Legislature of British Columbia]], in the province of [[British Columbia]], Canada. The other component of the Legislature is the [[lieutenant governor of British Columbia]]. The assembly has 93 elected members<ref>{{Cite web |last=Engagement |first=Government Communications and Public |title=Organizational structure - Province of British Columbia |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=www2.gov.bc.ca |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403055712/https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure |url-status=live }}</ref> and meets in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]. Members are elected from [[List of British Columbia provincial electoral districts|provincial ridings]] and are referred to as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|members of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLAs). Bills passed by the assembly are given [[royal assent]] by the lieutenant governor in the name of the [[King of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=1871 |number= |si=Order of Her Majesty in Council admitting British Columbia into the Union, dated the 16th day of May 1871 }}</ref>

The current legislature is the [[43rd Parliament of British Columbia|43rd Parliament]]. The most recent [[general election]] was [[2024 British Columbia general election|held on October 19, 2024]]. Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly are broadcast by [[Hansard TV|Hansard Broadcasting Services]].

== Location ==
From 1856 to 1860, the Legislature of the [[Colony of Vancouver Island]] met at Bachelor's Hall at [[Fort Victoria (British Columbia)|Fort Victoria]].<ref>Duffus, Maureen. [http://www.maureenduffus.com/history/first-legislature.html "Vancouver Island First Legislature"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100450/http://www.maureenduffus.com/history/first-legislature.html|date=September 29, 2007}}. ''Vancouver Island History''. Accessed 1 September 2022.</ref> From 1860 to 1898 it was housed in the first permanent building at Legislative Hall or Legislative Council Court, a two-storey wooden building along with four other buildings (Land Office, Colonial Office, Supreme Court, and Treasury) known colloquially as "The Birdcages" because of their shape (burned 1957).<ref>Harberer, E. (8 April 1876). [http://web.uvic.ca/vv/vvplates/pages/70_04_131.html "Victoria B.C. -The Provincial Public Buildings"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224221353/http://web.uvic.ca/vv/vvplates/pages/70_04_131.html|date=December 24, 2004}}. ''[[Canadian Illustrated News]]''. via [[University of Victoria]]. Accessed 1 September 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Victoria: History |url=https://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/about/history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415145304/http://www.victoria.ca/visitors/about_hist.shtml |archive-date=April 15, 2009 |access-date=1 September 2022 |website=City of Victoria}}</ref> Since 1898, the Legislature has been located in the [[British Columbia Parliament Buildings]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Attractions in Victoria, BC |url=http://www.villamarcopolo.com/index.php?pageid=33 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523094947/http://www.villamarcopolo.com/index.php?pageid=33 |archive-date=May 23, 2007 |access-date=May 31, 2007}}</ref> which features a {{convert|500|ft|m|order=flip|adj=mid|-long facade}}, central dome, two end pavilions, and a [[gilded]] statue of [[George Vancouver]].

==Recent parliaments==
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Parliament
! colspan="2" |Period
! colspan="3" |Government<br />{{small|[[Premier of British Columbia]]}}
! colspan="3" |Opposition<br />{{small|[[Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)|Leader of the Opposition]]}}
|-
!Start
!End
! colspan="2" |Party
!Name
! colspan="2" |Party
!Name
|-
| [[30th Parliament of British Columbia|30th]]<br />[[1972 British Columbia general election|{{small|1972 election}}]]
| 1972
| 1975
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|name|short}}
| [[Dave Barrett]]
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|background}} |
| [[British Columbia Social Credit Party|Social Credit]]
| {{plainlist|
* [[W. A. C. Bennett]]
* [[Bill Bennett]]
}}
|-
| [[31st Parliament of British Columbia|31st]]<br />[[1975 British Columbia general election|{{small|1975 election}}]]
| 1976
| 1979
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|name|short}}
| Bill Bennett
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|NDP]]
| Dave Barrett
|-
| [[32nd Parliament of British Columbia|32nd]]<br />[[1979 British Columbia general election|{{small|1979 election}}]]
| 1979
| 1983
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|name|short}}
| Bill Bennett
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|NDP]]
| Dave Barrett
|-
| [[33rd Parliament of British Columbia|33rd]]<br />[[1983 British Columbia general election|{{small|1983 election}}]]
| 1983
| 1986
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Social Credit|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Bill Bennett
* [[Bill Vander Zalm]]
}}
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Dave Barrett
* [[Bob Skelly]]
}}
|-
| [[34th Parliament of British Columbia|34th]]<br />[[1986 British Columbia general election|{{small|1986 election}}]]
| 1987
| 1991
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Social Credit|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Social Credit|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Bill Vander Zalm
* [[Rita Johnston]]
}}
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Bob Skelly
* [[Mike Harcourt]]
}}
|-
| [[35th Parliament of British Columbia|35th]]<br />[[1991 British Columbia general election|{{small|1991 election}}]]
| 1991
| 1996
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Mike Harcourt
* [[Glen Clark]]
}}
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* [[Gordon Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Gordon Wilson]]
* [[Fred Gingell]]
* [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]]
}}
|-
| [[36th Parliament of British Columbia|36th]]<br />[[1996 British Columbia general election|{{small|1996 election}}]]
| 1996
| 2001
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Glen Clark
* [[Dan Miller (Canadian politician)|Dan Miller]]
* [[Ujjal Dosanjh]]
}}
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| Gordon Campbell
|-
| [[37th Parliament of British Columbia|37th]]<br />[[2001 British Columbia general election|{{small|2001 election}}]]
| 2001
| 2005
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| Gordon Campbell
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| [[Joy MacPhail]]
|-
| [[38th Parliament of British Columbia|38th]]<br />[[2005 British Columbia general election|{{small|2005 election}}]]
| 2005
| 2009
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| Gordon Campbell
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| [[Carole James]]
|-
| [[39th Parliament of British Columbia|39th]]<br />[[2009 British Columbia general election|{{small|2009 election}}]]
| 2009
| 2013
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Gordon Campbell
* [[Christy Clark]]
}}
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Carole James
* [[Dawn Black]]
* [[Adrian Dix]]
}}
|-
| [[40th Parliament of British Columbia|40th]]<br />[[2013 British Columbia general election|{{small|2013 election}}]]
| 2013
| 2017
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| Christy Clark
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Adrian Dix
* [[John Horgan]]
}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[41st Parliament of British Columbia|41st]]<br />[[2017 British Columbia general election|{{small|2017 election}}]]
| rowspan="2" |2017
| rowspan="2" |2020
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| Christy Clark
|{{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
|{{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| John Horgan
|-
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| John Horgan
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Christy Clark
* [[Rich Coleman]]
* [[Andrew Wilkinson]]
}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[42nd Parliament of British Columbia|42nd]]<br />[[2020 British Columbia general election|{{small|2020 election}}]]
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| rowspan="2" {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| rowspan="2" | {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| rowspan="2" | {{plainlist|
* John Horgan
* [[David Eby]]
}}
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Liberal|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|Liberal|name|short}}
| {{plainlist|
* Andrew Wilkinson
* [[Shirley Bond]]
* [[Kevin Falcon]]
}}
|-
| style="background: #12C0D3;" | &nbsp;
| [[BC United|United]]
| Kevin Falcon
|-
|[[43rd Parliament of British Columbia|43rd]]<br>[[2024 British Columbia general election|{{small|2024 election}}]]
|2024
|present
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|background}} |
| {{Canadian party colour|party colours|NDP|name|short}}
| David Eby
| {{Canadian party colour|BC|Conservative|background}} |
| [[Conservative Party of British Columbia|Conservative]]
| [[John Rustad]]
|}

==Officeholders==

=== Since 2024 ===

==== Speaker ====
* [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]: [[Raj Chouhan]] ([[British Columbia New Democratic Party|NDP]])

==== Other chair occupants ====
* Deputy speaker; chair, Committee of the Whole: [[Mable Elmore]] (New Democratic Party)
* Assistant deputy speaker: [[Lorne Doerkson]] (Conservative)

==== Leaders ====
* [[Premier of British Columbia]]: [[David Eby]] (New Democratic Party)
* [[Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)|Leader of the Opposition]]: [[John Rustad]] (Conservative)
* [[Green Party of British Columbia|Green Party]] leader: [[Emily Lowan]]
* [[One BC (political party)|OneBC]] leader: [[Dallas Brodie]] (interim)

==== House leaders ====
* Government [[House leader]]: [[Ravi Kahlon]] (New Democratic Party)
* Opposition House leader: [[Áʼa꞉líya Warbus]] (Conservative)
* Green Party House leader: [[Rob Botterell]]
* OneBC House leader: [[Tara Armstrong]]

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|title=Photos of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
|width=160 | height=170 |noborder=yes
|align=center
|File:British Columbia Parliament Buildings - Pano - HDR.jpg 
 |The [[British Columbia Parliament Buildings]]
|File:British Columbia legislature building roof close up.jpg 
 |The Parliament Buildings roof with a [[gilded]] statue of [[George Vancouver]]
|File:BC legislative chamber.jpg 
 | The Legislative Chamber
}}

==See also==
* [[Executive Council of British Columbia]]
* [[Legislative Council of British Columbia]]
* [[List of British Columbia provincial electoral districts (2001–2009)]]
* [[British Columbia Legislature raids]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.leg.bc.ca/}}

{{British Columbia Legislative Assemblies}}
{{British Columbia politics}}
{{Canadian Legislative Bodies}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Wikidatacoord|Q1323479|display=title|type:landmark_region:CA-BC}}

[[Category:Legislative Assembly of British Columbia| ]]
[[Category:Legislatures of Canadian provinces and territories|British Columbia]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in British Columbia]]