Legislative assemblies of Canadian provinces and territories explained

This is a list of the legislative assemblies of Canada's provinces and territories. Each province's legislative assembly, along with the province's lieutenant governor, form the province's legislature (which is called a parliament or general assembly in some provinces). Historically, several provinces had bicameral legislatures, but they all eventually dissolved their upper house or merged it with their lower house, so that all provincial legislatures are now unicameral.

Members of the legislative assemblies of Canada's provinces and territories are called by various names. In most provinces and all three territories, they are called Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in English. In Ontario, they are called members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs); in Quebec, they are called members of the National Assembly (MNAs); and in Newfoundland and Labrador, they are called members of the House of Assembly (MHAs).

The legislative assembly with the most members is the National Assembly of Quebec, which consists of 125 MNAs. The provincial legislative assembly with the fewest members is the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, which consists of 27 MLAs. All of the legislative assemblies of Canada’s territories have fewer members than that of Prince Edward Island.

Current legislative assemblies

Provincial legislative assemblies
!Province!Legislature name!Assembly name!Location!First minister!Members!Ref
LegislatureLegislative AssemblyEdmontonPremier87 MLAs[1]
ParliamentLegislative AssemblyVictoriaPremier87 MLAs[2]
LegislatureLegislative AssemblyWinnipegPremier57 MLAs[3]
LegislatureLegislative AssemblyFrederictonPremier49 MLAs[4]
General AssemblyHouse of AssemblySt. John'sPremier40 MHAs[5]
General AssemblyHouse of AssemblyHalifaxPremier55 MLAs[6]
ParliamentLegislative AssemblyTorontoPremier124 MPPs[7]
General AssemblyLegislative AssemblyCharlottetownPremier27 MLAs[8]
ParliamentNational AssemblyQuebec CityPremier125 MNAs[9]
LegislatureLegislative AssemblyReginaPremier61 MLAs[10]
Territorial assemblies
!Territory!Legislature name!Assembly name!Location!First minister!Members!Ref
Legislature (List)Legislative AssemblyYellowknifePremier19 MLAs[11]
Legislature (List)Legislative AssemblyIqaluitPremier22 MLAs[12]
LegislatureLegislative AssemblyWhitehorsePremier19 MLAs[13]
Autonomous area assemblies
!Area!Legislature name!Location!First minister!Members!Ref
Haida NationCouncilHlg̱aagildaPresident16 members[14]
Nisg̱a'a NationNisg̱aʼa LisimsGitlax̱tʼaamiksExecutive chairperson11 members[15]
AssemblyHopedaleFirst Minister18 MNAs[16]
Tłı̨chǫ NdéTłı̨chǫ Ndek'àowo AssemblyBehchokǫ̀Grand Chief13 members[17]

Composition

In the table below, the parties with shading form part of the provincial government whilst the parties in bold have official party status.

Province! rowspan="2"
Seats
(majority)		width=50pxPCNDPwidth=50pxLiberalwidth=50pxGreenwidth=50px rowspan="2" Others
(in gov)		Otherswidth=50px rowspan="2" Ind.Last
election		Next
election
Ontario124
(63)		833181--1202244th
Quebec125
(63)		--19CAQ 89QS 12, PQ 4
1202244th
British Columbia87
(44)		-57-2-BCU 27,
Con 1		202043rd
Alberta87
(44)		-38--UCP 48-1202332nd
Manitoba57
(29)		22342----202344th
Saskatchewan61
(31)		-12--Sask. 48SUP 1-202030th
Nova Scotia55
(28)		31617---1202165th
New Brunswick49
(25)		29-163--1202041st
Newfoundland
and Labrador		40
(21)		12322---3202152nd
Prince
Edward Island		27
(14)		22-32---202368th
Northwest
Territories		19
(10)		------19202326th
Yukon19
(10)		-38--Yukon 8-202140th
Nunavut22
(12)		------2220217th

Past legislative chambers

Past legislative chambers of provinces and territories

PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Alberta
1670–1905See Northwest Territories.
1905–presentLegislative Assembly of AlbertaLieutenant Governor of AlbertaLegislature of Alberta
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" British Columbia
1849-1866See Vancouver Island and Colony of British Columbia.
1866–1871Legislative Council of British ColumbiaGovernor of the United Colony of British ColumbiaGovernor-in-Council
1871–presentLegislative Assembly of British ColumbiaLieutenant governor of British ColumbiaParliament of British Columbia
*Included some elected members, but did not have responsible government.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Manitoba1670-1821See Northwest Territories.
1821-1870Council of AssiniboiaGovernor of Red River Colony and Assiniboia DistrictGovernor-in-Council
1870–1876Legislative Assembly of ManitobaLegislative Council of ManitobaLieutenant Governor of Manitoba and the North-West TerritoriesLegislature of Manitoba
1876–1905Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and Keewatin
1905–presentLieutenant governor of Manitoba
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" New Brunswick
1763–1784See Nova Scotia.
1784–1891Legislative Assembly of New BrunswickLegislative Council of New BrunswickLieutenant governor of New BrunswickNew Brunswick Legislature
1891–present
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Newfoundland and Labrador
1655–1713Governor of Plaisancerowspan="4"
1713–1770Lieutenant Governor of Placentia
1770–1825 (see Commodore-Governor)
1825–1833Governor of Newfoundland
1833–1934Newfoundland House of AssemblyLegislative Council of NewfoundlandGeneral Assembly of Newfoundland
1934–1949Commission of GovernmentGovernor-in-Council
1949–present*Newfoundland and Labrador House of AssemblyLieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and LabradorGeneral Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador
* Labrador was added to the name of the province in 2001. Before then, the bodies were the Newfoundland House of Assembly, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, and General Assembly of Newfoundland.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Northwest Territories
1670–1821Governor of Rupert's Landrowspan="3"
1821–1839Governor of Rupert's Land Northern Department
1839–1870Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land
1870–1876Temporary North-West CouncilLieutenant Governor of Manitoba and the North-West TerritoriesGovernor-in-Council
1876–18881st Council of the Northwest TerritoriesLieutenant governor of the North-West Territories
1888–1905North-West Legislative Assembly
1905–19512nd Council of the Northwest TerritoriesGovernor General of Canada as represented by the Commissioner of the Northwest TerritoriesCommissioner-in-Council
1951–2014Legislative Council of the Northwest Territoriesrowspan="3"
2014–presentNorthwest Territories Legislative AssemblyLegislature of the Northwest Territories
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Nova Scotia
1603–1713Governor of Acadiarowspan="2"
1713–1720Governor of Nova Scotia and Placentia
1720–1758Nova Scotia CouncilGovernor-in-Council
1758–1786Nova Scotia House of AssemblyGovernor of Nova ScotiaGeneral Assembly of Nova Scotia
1786-1838Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
1838–1928Legislative Council of Nova Scotia
1928–present
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Nunavut
1670–1999See Northwest Territories.
1999–presentLegislative Assembly of NunavutGovernor General of Canada as represented by the Commissioner of NunavutLegislature of Nunavut
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Ontario
1627–1791See Quebec.
1791–1841Legislative Assembly of Upper CanadaLegislative Council of Upper CanadaLieutenant Governor of Upper CanadaParliament of Upper Canada
1841–1867See Province of Canada.
1867–presentLegislative Assembly of OntarioLieutenant Governor of OntarioParliament of Ontario
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Prince Edward Island
1763–1769See Nova Scotia.
1769–1786House of Assembly of Prince Edward IslandLegislative Council of Prince Edward Island[18] Governor of St. John's IslandGeneral Assembly of Prince Edward Island
1786-1893*Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
1893–presentLegislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
* The territory's name was changed from St. John's Island to Prince Edward Island in 1798. Before then, the bodies were the House of Assembly of the Island of St. John, Legislative Council of the Island of St. John, Lieutenant Governor of the Island of St. John, and General Assembly of the Island of St. John.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Quebec
1627–1763Governor of New France
1763–1791Council for the Affairs of the Province of QuebecGovernor of the Province of QuebecGovernor-in-Council
1791–1838Legislative Assembly of Lower CanadaLegislative Council of Lower CanadaLieutenant Governor of Lower CanadaParliament of Lower Canada
1838–1841Special Council of Lower CanadaGovernor-in-Council
1841–1867See Province of Canada.
1867–1968Legislative Assembly of QuebecLegislative Council of QuebecLieutenant Governor of QuebecParliament of Quebec
1968–presentNational Assembly of Quebec
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Saskatchewan
1670–1905See Northwest Territories.
1905–presentLegislative Assembly of SaskatchewanLieutenant Governor of SaskatchewanLegislature of Saskatchewan
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Yukon
????–1898See Northwest Territories.
1898–1909Yukon Territorial CouncilGovernor General of Canada as represented by the Commissioner of YukonCommissioner-in-Council
1909–1978Yukon Territorial Councilrowspan="3"
1978–2002Yukon Legislative Assembly
2002–presentLegislature of Yukon

Past assemblies of former territories and colonies

PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Colony of British Columbia (mainland)
1858–1866Colonial Assembly of British ColumbiaGovernor of the Colony of British ColumbiaGovernor-in-Council
1866–presentSee British Columbia.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Colony of Cape Breton
1784–1820Cape Breton CouncilLieutenant Governor of Cape BretonGovernor-in-Council
1820–presentSee Nova Scotia.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" District of Keewatin
1670–1876See Northwest Territories.
1876–1877Council of KeewatinLieutenant Governor of Manitoba and KeewatinGovernor-in-Council
1877–1905
1905–1999See Northwest Territories.
1999–presentSee Nunavut.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Province of Canada
1627–1791See Quebec.
1791–1841See Ontario and Quebec.
1841–1867Legislative Assembly of the Province of CanadaLegislative Council of the Province of CanadaGovernor General of the Province of CanadaParliament of the Province of Canada
1867–1968See Ontario and Quebec.
PeriodLower houseUpper houseViceroyParliament+ style="text-align: left" Colony of Vancouver Island
1849–1855Legislative Council of Vancouver IslandGovernor of Vancouver IslandGovernor-in-Council
1855–1866House of Assembly of Vancouver IslandLegislature of Vancouver Island
1866–presentSee British Columbia.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legislative Assembly of Alberta . 2022-06-03 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  2. Web site: WELCOME to the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY of BRITISH COLUMBIA . 2022-06-03 . www.leg.bc.ca . en.
  3. Web site: The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba . 2022-06-03 . www.gov.mb.ca.
  4. Web site: New Brunswick's Legislative Assembly Donald Desserud; Stewart Hyson – Canadian Parliamentary Review- La Revue parlementaire canadienne . 5 May 2012 . 2022-06-03 . en-US.
  5. Web site: House of Assembly - Newfoundland and Labrador . 2022-06-03 . www.assembly.nl.ca.
  6. Web site: Nova Scotia Legislature . 2022-06-03 . Nova Scotia Legislature . en.
  7. Web site: Home page . 2022-06-03 . Legislative Assembly of Ontario . en.
  8. Web site: Home Legislative Assembly . 2022-06-03 . www.assembly.pe.ca.
  9. Web site: Home - National Assembly of Québec . 2022-06-03 . www.assnat.qc.ca . en.
  10. Web site: Home - National Assembly of Québec . 2022-06-03 . www.assnat.qc.ca . en.
  11. Web site: Home Legislative Assembly of The Northwest Territories . 2022-06-03 . www.ntassembly.ca.
  12. Web site: Nunavut Legislative Assembly . 2022-06-03 . assembly.nu.ca.
  13. Web site: Yukon Legislative Assembly Yukon Legislative Assembly . 2022-06-03 . yukonassembly.ca.
  14. Web site: 2017-03-29 . Council of the Haida Nation . 2022-06-03 . en-US.
  15. Web site: Executive Nisga'a Lisims Government . 2022-06-03 . www.nisgaanation.ca.
  16. Web site: Home . 2022-06-03 . Nunatsiavut Government . en-US.
  17. Web site: Assembly . 2023-10-04 . Tłı̨chǫ Government . en.
  18. The Legislative Council was an elected body from 1862 to 1893. Web site: Elections PEI: Provincial Electoral Reform. Government of Prince Edward Island. 2008-10-18.

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