Premier of British Columbia
Encyclopedia
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. The word Premier is derived from the French word of the same spelling, meaning "first"; and ultimately from the Latin word primarius, meaning "primary".
The incumbent is Christy Clark
who was sworn into office on March 14, 2011.
(represented in British Columbia by the Lieutenant Governor
). Formally, in fact, the executive branch of government in British Columbia is said to be vested in the Lieutenant Governor acting by and with the advice of the Premier
.
The political party
that wins the largest number of seats in a general election
is usually invited by the Lieutenant Governor to form the government. Its leader becomes the head of the provincial government and is known as the Premier.
The position of the Premier is not described in Canadian constitutional statutes. Instead, the position’s power and authority largely depend on their relationship with other Members of the Legislative Assembly, political party, and the public.
A cabinet minister remains in office solely at the pleasure of the Premier. The resignation of the Premier dissolves the Cabinet, but does not involve the resignation of the Executive Council as a whole or individual cabinet ministers.
First Minister
A First Minister is the leader of a government cabinet.-Canada:In Canada, "First Ministers" is a collective term that refers to all Canadian first ministers of the Crown, otherwise known as heads of government, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the provincial and territorial premiers...
, head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of British Columbia
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...
. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used. The word Premier is derived from the French word of the same spelling, meaning "first"; and ultimately from the Latin word primarius, meaning "primary".
The incumbent is Christy Clark
Christy Clark
Christina Joan "Christy" Clark, MLA is a Canadian politician, the 35th and current Premier of British Columbia, Canada...
who was sworn into office on March 14, 2011.
Legal status
Although the Premier is the day-to-day leader of the provincial government, they receive the authority to govern from the CrownThe Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
(represented in British Columbia by the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
). Formally, in fact, the executive branch of government in British Columbia is said to be vested in the Lieutenant Governor acting by and with the advice of the Premier
Executive Council of British Columbia
The Executive Council of British Columbia is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
.
The political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
that wins the largest number of seats in a general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
is usually invited by the Lieutenant Governor to form the government. Its leader becomes the head of the provincial government and is known as the Premier.
The position of the Premier is not described in Canadian constitutional statutes. Instead, the position’s power and authority largely depend on their relationship with other Members of the Legislative Assembly, political party, and the public.
Formal responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Premier usually include:- serving as the President of the Executive CouncilExecutive Council of British ColumbiaThe Executive Council of British Columbia is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
and head of the provincial CabinetCabinet (government)A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
. The Executive Council is the formal name of the Cabinet when it is acting in its legal capacity. - serving as the head of the provincial government
- leading the development and implementation of government policies and priorities
- serving as the senior communicator of government priorities and plans between:
- the Lieutenant Governor and Cabinet
- the British Columbia government and other provincial and territorial governments
- the British Columbia Government and the federal government and international governments
- providing advice to the Lieutenant Governor on the exercise of the Queen’s and the Lieutenant Governor’s powers
- functions in respect of the Province of British Columbia, such as recommending to the Lieutenant Governor the appointment of cabinet ministers and allocating ministerial portfolios
- serving as leader of a major political party and its caucus of MLAMember of the Legislative AssemblyA Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
s - representing their constituency in the Legislative Assembly
President of the Executive Council
Generally, the Premier selects MLAs from their party to be appointed ministers of the Crown by the Lieutenant Governor. Cabinet appointees are designated ministers in charge of government ministries; they are responsible for the day-to-day activities of individual government ministries such as the Ministry of Forests, and for proposing new laws or changing existing ones. The Premier may also choose an individual who is not an MLA to be a cabinet minister, although on the rare occasion that this does happen, the practice is that the minister proceeds to obtain a seat in the House. The appointment of an MLA to Cabinet is based on their ability and expertise and is also influenced by political considerations such as geography, gender and ethnicity.A cabinet minister remains in office solely at the pleasure of the Premier. The resignation of the Premier dissolves the Cabinet, but does not involve the resignation of the Executive Council as a whole or individual cabinet ministers.
See also
- Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
- Premier (Canada)Premier (Canada)In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
- List of premiers of British Columbia