Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
Encyclopedia
The Legislative Assembly
of Prince Edward Island
, along with the Lieutenant-Governor, forms the parliament
of the province
. The General Assembly meets at Province House
, which is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown
.
originally had a bicameral legislature founded in 1773 with the Legislative Council of Prince Edward Island
serving as the upper house
and the House of Assembly
as the lower house
. Together they composed the 1st General Assembly of the Island of Saint John
. After the name of the colony changed in 1798, the body became known as the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. In 1893 the two bodies were amalgamated into a unicameral legislature and became known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. Formally, the legislature is still known as the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island.
In 1769, a British Order in Council established a new government on the British colony of St. John’s Island (present day P.E.I.). In 1770, Lieutenant Governor Walter Patterson (the island’s first Governor) arrived and appointed a Council to assist him in the administration of the island. By 1773, at the insistence of the British government, Governor Patterson summoned the island’s first assembly.
Elections for the island’s first House of Assembly were held on July 4, 1773, with 18 members being elected. Tradition has it that the first session of the island’s new assembly was held in the Crossed Keys Tavern on the corner of Queen and Dorchester Streets in Charlottetown; however, a journal entry contradicts this and indicates that it was actually held in the home of James Richardson.
In 1839, an important distinction was drawn between the executive and legislative capacities of the Legislative Council. This distinction proved to be an important step on the road to responsible government which was finally implemented in 1851.
Prior to 1893, Prince Edward Island had a bicameral system of government, consisting of a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly. These two bodies were amalgamated in 1893 to create one Legislative Assembly consisting of 30 members elected from 15 different constituencies. Each constituency returned a Councillor and an Assemblyman to the Assembly. The only change to this system of returning members to the assembly was the addition of two Members resulting from the creation of 6th Queens in 1966. In 1996, the system and the electoral map were restructured, and the province now has twenty-seven Members of the Legislative Assembly, each elected from a different constituency.
Prior to the 1996 provincial election
, the province was divided into 16 dual-member districts, each of which was represented by one member who held the title Assemblyman and one member who held the title Councillor. This was a holdover from the legislature's historic bicameral structure — instead of simply abolishing its upper house as most Canadian provinces with historically bicameral legislatures did, Prince Edward Island merged the two houses in 1893. Although both members sat in the same legislative house, all voters in a district voted for the assemblyman while only landowners could vote for the councillor. Excepting the division of 5th Queens
, the district that contained the capital city of Charlottetown
, into two districts in 1966, these district boundaries were never adjusted for demographic or population changes.
The property qualification was discontinued in 1963, largely eliminating any practical distinction between the two roles, although the nominal titles continued to be used until the current single-member districts were introduced in 1996.
The seating plan of the legislature is rare for assemblies modeled on the House of Commons in Westminster. Traditionally, the Government sits on the side of the House to the right of the Speaker with the opposition to the left of the Speaker; in the PEI assembly, this arrangement is reversed. The reason is that before central heating was installed, the stove which heated the room was to the left of the Speaker and the governments of the day chose to be nearer the stove.
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Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, along with the Lieutenant-Governor, forms the 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...
of the province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
. The General Assembly meets at Province House
Province House (Prince Edward Island)
Province House is where the Prince Edward Island Legislature, known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, has met since 1847. The building is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown; it is Canada's second-oldest seat of government.- History...
, which is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
.
History
As a colony, Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
originally had a bicameral legislature founded in 1773 with the Legislative Council of Prince Edward Island
Legislative Council of Prince Edward Island
The Legislative Council of Prince Edward Island was the upper house of the government of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It existed from 1773 to 1893. Members were appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island on the advice of the Premier until 1862 when it became an...
serving as the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
and 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....
as the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
. Together they composed the 1st General Assembly of the Island of Saint John
1st General Assembly of Prince Edward Island
The 1st General Assembly of the Island of St. John represented the colony of Prince Edward Island, then known as St. John's Island, between July 7, 1773 and 1774....
. After the name of the colony changed in 1798, the body became known as the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. In 1893 the two bodies were amalgamated into a unicameral legislature and became known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. Formally, the legislature is still known as the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island.
In 1769, a British Order in Council established a new government on the British colony of St. John’s Island (present day P.E.I.). In 1770, Lieutenant Governor Walter Patterson (the island’s first Governor) arrived and appointed a Council to assist him in the administration of the island. By 1773, at the insistence of the British government, Governor Patterson summoned the island’s first assembly.
Elections for the island’s first House of Assembly were held on July 4, 1773, with 18 members being elected. Tradition has it that the first session of the island’s new assembly was held in the Crossed Keys Tavern on the corner of Queen and Dorchester Streets in Charlottetown; however, a journal entry contradicts this and indicates that it was actually held in the home of James Richardson.
In 1839, an important distinction was drawn between the executive and legislative capacities of the Legislative Council. This distinction proved to be an important step on the road to responsible government which was finally implemented in 1851.
Prior to 1893, Prince Edward Island had a bicameral system of government, consisting of a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly. These two bodies were amalgamated in 1893 to create one Legislative Assembly consisting of 30 members elected from 15 different constituencies. Each constituency returned a Councillor and an Assemblyman to the Assembly. The only change to this system of returning members to the assembly was the addition of two Members resulting from the creation of 6th Queens in 1966. In 1996, the system and the electoral map were restructured, and the province now has twenty-seven Members of the Legislative Assembly, each elected from a different constituency.
Composition
The Legislative Assembly currently has 27 single-member districts and is currently the smallest provincial assembly in Canada.Prior to the 1996 provincial election
Prince Edward Island general election, 1996
thumb|Map of PEI's ridings showing winning parties and their popular vote.The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island conducted a general election on November 18, 1996 to elect the 27 members of the Island legislature...
, the province was divided into 16 dual-member districts, each of which was represented by one member who held the title Assemblyman and one member who held the title Councillor. This was a holdover from the legislature's historic bicameral structure — instead of simply abolishing its upper house as most Canadian provinces with historically bicameral legislatures did, Prince Edward Island merged the two houses in 1893. Although both members sat in the same legislative house, all voters in a district voted for the assemblyman while only landowners could vote for the councillor. Excepting the division of 5th Queens
5th Queens
5th Queens was an electoral district in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, which elected two members to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1873 to 1993. The district was also known as Charlottetown Common until 1939....
, the district that contained the capital city of Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, into two districts in 1966, these district boundaries were never adjusted for demographic or population changes.
The property qualification was discontinued in 1963, largely eliminating any practical distinction between the two roles, although the nominal titles continued to be used until the current single-member districts were introduced in 1996.
The seating plan of the legislature is rare for assemblies modeled on the House of Commons in Westminster. Traditionally, the Government sits on the side of the House to the right of the Speaker with the opposition to the left of the Speaker; in the PEI assembly, this arrangement is reversed. The reason is that before central heating was installed, the stove which heated the room was to the left of the Speaker and the governments of the day chose to be nearer the stove.
Members
Cabinet ministers are in bold, party leaders are in italic, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is designated by a dagger.| Member | Party | Electoral district | |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Aylward James Aylward (politician) James Aylward is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2011 provincial election. He represents the district of Stratford-Kinlock as a member of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party.... |
Progressive Conservative | Stratford-Kinlock | |
| Carolyn Bertram Carolyn Bertram Carolyn Bertram is a Canadian politician.She was first elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislature in September 2003 to represent District 17, Crapaud-Hazel Grove. Ms. Bertram served as Opposition Critic for Education, Tourism, the Status of Women and Community and Cultural Affairs. She also... |
Liberal | Rustico-Emerald | |
| Paula Biggar Paula Biggar Paula Biggar is a Canadian politician.She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Tyne Valley-Linkletter and is a member of the Liberal Party... |
Liberal | Tyne Valley-Linkletter Tyne Valley-Linkletter Tyne Valley-Linkletter is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The district was formerly named Cascumpec-Grand River from 1996 to 2007.-Members:... |
|
| Richard Brown Richard Brown (Canadian politician) Richard Brown is a Canadian politician.The Honourable Richard Brown was appointed by Premier Robert Ghiz as Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry on January 13, 2009.... |
Liberal | Charlottetown-Victoria Park | |
| Kathleen Casey Kathleen Casey Kathleen Casey is a Canadian politician. Casey was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Charlottetown-Lewis Point and is a member of the Liberal Party... † |
Liberal | Charlottetown-Lewis Point | |
| Olive Crane Olive Crane Olive Crane is a Canadian politician and social worker from Douglas Station, Prince Edward Island. She is the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island.... |
Progressive Conservative | Morell-Mermaid Morell-Mermaid Morell-Mermaid is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Created from mostly 2nd Kings and parts of 3rd and 5th Kings, in 1996... |
|
| Doug Currie Doug Currie Douglas W. Currie is a Canadian politician.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Charlottetown-Parkdale and is a member of the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | Charlottetown-Parkdale | |
| Valerie Docherty Valerie Docherty Valerie E. Docherty is a Canadian politician.She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election... |
Liberal | Kellys Cross-Cumberland | |
| Bush Dumville Bush Dumville Stanley Forrest Dumville is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election... |
Liberal | West Royalty-Springvale | |
| Sonny Gallant Sonny Gallant Sonny Gallant is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Evangeline-Miscouche and is a member of the Liberal Party.-External links:*... |
Liberal | Evangeline-Miscouche | |
| Robert Ghiz Robert Ghiz Robert Watson Joseph Ghiz, MLA is a Canadian politician who has been the 31st Premier of Prince Edward Island since 2007... |
Liberal | Charlottetown-Brighton | |
| Gerard Greenan Gerard Greenan Gerard Greenan is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Summerside-St. Eleanors and is a member of the Liberal Party. On June 12, 2007, he was sworn in as Attorney General... |
Liberal | Summerside-St. Eleanors Summerside-St. Eleanors Summerside-St. Eleanors is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Prior to 2007, it was called St... |
|
| Robert Henderson Robert Henderson (Canadian politician) Robert Henderson is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of O'Leary-Inverness and is a member of the Liberal Party. He is the son of former MP George Henderson.-External links:*... |
Liberal | O'Leary-Inverness O'Leary-Inverness O'Leary-Inverness is provincial electoral district #25, for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. It was formerly known as West Point-Bloomfield from 1996 to 2007. It was created in 1996 from parts of 1st Prince and 2nd Prince... |
|
| Colin LaVie Colin LaVie Colin LaVie is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2011 provincial election. He represents the district of Souris-Elmira as a member of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party.... |
Progressive Conservative | Souris-Elmira Souris-Elmira Souris-Elmira is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The riding was created for the 1996 election from 1st Kings and a small part of 5th Kings and 2nd Kings.-Members:... |
|
| Ron MacKinley Ron MacKinley Ronald W. "Ronnie" MacKinley is a Prince Edward Island Liberal politician, and a current member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.... |
Liberal | Cornwall-Meadowbank | |
| Charlie McGeoghegan Charlie McGeoghegan Charlie McGeoghegan is a Canadian politician.He graduated from Montague High School in 1992.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in a by-election on October 15, 2007, following the resignation of Pat Binns... |
Liberal | Belfast-Murray River Belfast-Murray River Belfast-Murray River is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Created mostly from 4th Kings, part of 5th Kings and a small part of 4th Queens in 1996... |
|
| Alan McIsaac Alan McIsaac Alan McIsaac is a Canadian politician.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Vernon River-Stratford and is a member of the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | Vernon River-Stratford | |
| Robert Mitchell | Liberal | Charlottetown-Sherwood | |
| Pat Murphy Pat Murphy (Canadian politician) Pat Murphy is a Canadian politician.Murphy was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election and represents the electoral district of Alberton-Roseville and is a member of the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | Alberton-Roseville Alberton-Roseville Alberton-Roseville is provincial electoral district #26, for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. It was formerly known as Alberton-Miminegash from 1996 to 2007.It includes, among others, the following communities:*Alberton... |
|
| Steven Myers Steven Myers (politician) Steven Myers is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2011 provincial election. He represents the district of Georgetown-St. Peters as a member of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party.-External links:*... |
Progressive Conservative | Georgetown-St. Peters Georgetown-St. Peters Georgetown-St. Peters is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. It was created from mostly 3rd Kings and part of 5th Kings... |
|
| Hal Perry Hal Perry (politician) Hal Perry is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2011 provincial election. He represents the district of Tignish-Palmer Road as a member of the Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party.... |
Progressive Conservative | Tignish-Palmer Road Tignish-Palmer Road Tignish-Palmer Road is provincial electoral district #27, for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. It was formerly Tignish-DeBlois from 1996 to 2007.-Members:The riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:... |
|
| Allen Roach Allen Roach Allen Roach is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2011 provincial election. He represents the district of Montague-Kilmuir as a member of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party.-External links:*... |
Liberal | Montague-Kilmuir Montague-Kilmuir Montague-Kilmuir is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada.-Members:The riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:-Election results:|Liberal|Allen Roach... |
|
| Wes Sheridan Wes Sheridan Wesley J. Sheridan is a Canadian politician.A native of Shediac, New Brunswick and a graduate of Dartmouth College, Sheridan was an assistant manager at the Malpeque Bay Credit Union prior to entering politics.... |
Liberal | Kensington-Malpeque | |
| Janice Sherry Janice Sherry Janice Sherry is a Canadian politician.She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Summerside-Wilmot and is a member of the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | Summerside-Wilmot Summerside-Wilmot Summerside-Wilmot is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Formerly named Wilmot-Summerside 1996-2007.-Members:The riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:... |
|
| Robert Vessey Robert Vessey (Canadian politician) Robert Vessey is a Canadian politician.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election and represents the electoral district of York-Oyster Bed as a member of the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | York-Oyster Bed York-Oyster Bed York-Oyster Bed is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The district was named Stanhope-East Royalty from 1996 until 2007.-Members:... |
|
| Buck Watts Buck Watts Francis "Buck" Watts is a Canadian politician.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2007 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Tracadie-Hillsborough Park and is a member of the Liberal Party.... |
Liberal | Tracadie-Hillsborough Park | |
| George Webster | Liberal | Borden-Kinkora | |
Party standings
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| Affiliation | Members |
|
| Liberal Party Prince Edward Island Liberal Party The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party is a major political party in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The PEI Liberals are aligned with the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The party is led by Robert Ghiz, a former member of the staff of the Prime Minister's Office under Prime Minister... |
22 | |
| Progressive Conservative Party Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island is one of two major political parties on Prince Edward Island. It and its rival, the Liberals have alternated in power since responsible government was granted in 1851 and are the only two parties represented in the PEI Legislative... |
5 | |
| Total |
27 | |
| Government Majority |
14 | |
External links
- The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, government website
- Canadian Governments Compared