The premier of British Columbia is the

first minister A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of ' ...

and

head of government In the Executive (government), executive branch, the head of government is the highest or the second-highest official of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presid ...

for the

Canadian province Canada has ten provinces and three territories that are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Constitution of Canada, Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North Amer ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. 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".

Legal status

Although the premier is the day-to-day leader of the provincial government, they receive the authority to govern from

the Crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

(represented in British Columbia by the province's

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

). Formally, the

executive branch The executive branch is the part of government which executes or enforces the law. Function The scope of executive power varies greatly depending on the political context in which it emerges, and it can change over time in a given country. In ...

of government in British Columbia is said to be vested in the lieutenant governor acting by and with the advice and consent of the executive council. The position of premier is not described in Canadian constitutional statutes. By convention, the leader of the

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

that has the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly is usually invited by the lieutenant governor to form the government.

Formal responsibilities

The responsibilities of the premier usually include: * recommending the appointment and dismissal of ministers to the Lieutenant Governor * serving as the president of the Executive Council and head of the provincial Cabinet. * 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

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 minister remains in office solely at the pleasure of the premier. The resignation of the premier also triggers the resignation of the other members of Cabinet.Much of the information above is adapted from the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia website article "Discover more about the role of an MLA". Please see the external links.

References

External links

Premier of British Columbia Official Site

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
{{British Columbia politics 1871 establishments in British Columbia

Legal status

Formal responsibilities

President of the Executive Council

See also

References

External links