Provincial Legislature Members

Question 1

Members of the Provincial Legislature

Answer 1

• Include Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs - for most provinces), Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs - Ontario), or Members of the National Assembly (MNAs - Quebec)
• Elected to represent and serve voters in their ridings
• Always a member of the political party
• Follow instructions of their leaders when they vote in the legislature
• If they are part of the opposition party, their job is to present clear alternatives to the government policy

Question 2

Speaker of the House

Answer 2

• Member of the Legislature (MLA) who is elected by their peers by a secret ballot box
• Responsible for keeping orders in debates
• Makes decisions on the day-to-day running of the legislature

Question 3

Premier

Answer 3

• Usually the leader of the political party
• Has the most seats in the legislature
• Like the prime minister in the federal parliament, the premier is the most powerful person in the legislature

Question 4

Cabinet Ministers

Answer 4

• The premier selects ministers to be responsible for different areas (known as the cabinet)
• Ministers are usually chosen from the MLAs of the premier’s own party
• May be chosen from other members of the legislature
• The premier and the cabinet direct the government policy

Question 5

Leader of the Official Opposition Party

Answer 5

• Usually the leader of the second largest party in the legislature
• Responsible for criticizing and putting forward alternatives to government policy

Question 6

Shadow Cabinet

Answer 6

• The leader of the official opposition selects the shadow cabinet
• It’s job is to “shadow” the cabinet by criticizing government policy
• Take on the same areas of responsibility as the members of the cabinet