British Columbia

Under the lieutenant governor are members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Assembly members are elected for a period of up to five years, though an election for a new assembly can be called at any time by the lieutenant governor or on the advice of the premier. In the Legislative Assembly are the premier, the cabinet ministers and backbenchers, the leader of the official opposition, other parties, and independent members. The laws of British Columbia are administered by the cabinet, premier, and lieutenant governor; they are interpreted by a judiciary made up of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Court of Appeal, and County or Provincial Courts.

The current ruling party is Gordon Campbell’s Liberal Party, which swept to power in April 2001. Provincial politics in British Columbia have traditionally been a two-party struggle. For information on the provincial government, its ministries, and current issues, visit www.gov.bc.ca.

Alberta

The members of the Alberta Legislature are elected on a party system in the same way as those in British Columbia. The leader of the party in power, known as the premier, oversees the running of 18 departments. With so much control over the province’s natural resources and, in turn, Alberta’s future, many premiers have enjoyed a particularly high profile. One such premier, Peter Lougheed, initiated the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, which collects billions of dollars in oil royalties for the people of Alberta. Initiated in 1976, the fund changed direction in the mid-1990s, steering toward long-term financial returns as opposed to specific projects. Now, the Alberta Heritage Fund holds monies for programs and services, but most of the fund’s $14.5 billion is invested. The Progressive Conservative Party is currently in power. Other parties include the New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, and Alberta Alliance. The website of the Alberta government is www.alberta.ca.

Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory

North of the 60th parallel are three territories (the third is Nunavut). Simply put, these three Northern jurisdictions lack the population to qualify as provinces, and therefore fall under the constitutional control of the federal government. Fully elected assemblies give the territories a degree of independence, but there are no political parties. Instead, a single member of each electoral district is voted to the legislative assembly. Members of the assembly then elect a premier and cabinet ministers. At the top of the territorial ladder is a commissioner, who performs a role similar to the lieutenant governor’s. For information on the Northwest Territories government go to www.gov.nt.ca; the website of the Yukon government is www.gov.yk.ca.

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition