Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly | |
---|---|
62nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia[1] | |
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
House Leader | |
Opposition House Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 51 |
Political groups |
Governing Party Opposition Parties |
Elections | |
Last election | October 8, 2013 |
Next election | Next election |
Meeting place | |
Legislative Chamber, Province House, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | |
Website | |
nslegislature.ca/ |
The Nova Scotia Legislature, formally, known as the General Assembly, consists of the Crown represented by a Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly,[2] is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada. The assembly is the oldest in Canada, having first sat in 1758,[3] and in 1848 was the site of the first responsible government in the British Empire.
Originally (in 1758), the Legislature consisted of the Crown represented by a governor (later a lieutenant governor), the appointed Nova Scotia Council holding both executive and legislative duties and an elected House of Assembly (lower chamber). In 1838, the council was replaced by an executive council with the executive function and a legislative council with the legislative functions based on the House of Lords. In 1928, the Legislative Council was abolished and the members pensioned off.
There are 51 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) representing 51 electoral districts. Members nearly always represent one of the three main political parties of the province: the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.
The assembly meets in Province House. Located in Halifax Province House is a National Historic Site and Canada's oldest and smallest legislative building. It opened on February 11, 1819. The building was also the original home to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and the location of the "Freedom of the Press" trial of Joseph Howe. Its main entrance is found on Hollis Street in Halifax.
Party standings
Affiliation | Members | |
Liberal | 34 | |
Progressive Conservative | 10 | |
New Democratic | 6 | |
Independents | 1 | |
Vacant | 0 | |
Total |
51 | |
Government majority |
17 |
Committees
Standing Committees
- Assembly Matters
- Community Services
- Economic Development
- Human Resources
- Internal Affairs
- Law Amendments
- Private & Local Bills
- Public Accounts
- Resources
- Veterans Affairs
Committees of the Whole House
- Bills
- Supply
- Supply Subcommittee
Select Committee
- Participation in the Democratic Process
recent former Select Committees
(final reports filed)
- Electoral Boundaries
- Fire Safety
- National Unity
- Petroleum Product Pricing
- Workers' Compensation Act
Special Committee
- to Review the Estimates of the Auditor General
Seating Plan
Capitals indicate party leaders; New Democratic Party leader Gary Burrill does not presently hold a seat, but has announced he will run in Halifax Chebucto during the next general election.[4]
See also
- List of Nova Scotia General Assemblies
- List of political parties in Nova Scotia
- Executive Council of Nova Scotia (Cabinet)
- Province House (Nova Scotia)
- Politics of Nova Scotia
References
- ↑ "The Nova Scotia Legislature". General Assembly of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
- ↑ Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 69, 71 & 88; Nova Scotia House of Assembly
- ↑ How Canadians Govern Themselves
- ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gary-burrill-nova-scotia-ndp-halifax-chebucto-1.3674881