A Day in the Life of Your MLA During the Legislative Session
"Many people ask me what i do at the Legislature."
About the BC Legislature and a Typical Schedule while I am working in Victoria
The British Columbia Legislature is located in the provincial capital of Victoria. It is the place where 85 elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) meet to debate political issues, pass laws, and approve all taxes and provincial government spending. Each MLA represents a particular part of British Columbia. Barry Penner is the MLA for Chilliwack-Hope.
At present, the BC Liberal Party has a majority in the Legislature with 49 members. A total of 35 NDP MLA's were elected, along with one Independent MLA in the May, 2009 provincial election. The next general provincial election in British Columbia is scheduled for May 14, 2013.
British Columbia joined Canada as province in 1871. Canada is comprised of ten provinces and three territories. Political powers are divided between the national and provincial governments according to sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution of Canada.
The federal government is responsible for such things as national defence, foreign affairs, criminal laws, banking and issuing paper money. Provinces have the power to make laws affecting forests, hospitals, highways and municipalities. Provinces are also responsible for administering criminal laws (hiring police and establishing courthouses), even though those laws are written by the federal government.
The BC Legislature has traditionally been called into session in the spring of each year, at which time a provincial budget is introduced and debated. The BC budget is about $38.5 billion! Health care spending has increased by 59% to $13.8 billion since the 2001 election.
Over the years, one of the most common criticisms of the BC Legislature was that it would be called back in the spring at the whim of the governing party, and there was no predictable date for the provincial budget to be presented. For this reason, My BC Liberal colleagues and I made a commitment to establish a fixed Legislative calendar so that everyone can know in advance when a provincial budget will be introduced, and when their elected representatives will be working in Victoria on their behalf. We kept that commitment.
The fixed legislative calendar is as follows:
- The second Tuesday of February each year is reserved for the Throne Speech and the start of a new session.
- The third Tuesday of February each year is reserved for the Budget Speech.
Thus, the Spring session in 2010 will be as follow:
- Throne Speech - February 19, 2010
- Budget Speech - February 16, 2010
If a fall session of the BC Legislature is required, it normally starts in October.
If you want more information about how the BC Legislature works, please contact my office at localmla@uniserve.com or by phone 604-858-6202. I would be pleased to send you a brochure outlining more of the rules and procedures of our Legislative Assembly.
A typical Tuesday in the life of MLA Barry Penner during the Legislative Session
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast meeting in the Legislature |
| 8:15 a.m. | Office time - check messages, review emerging issues related to Ministry of Environment and discuss Legislative business with Ministerial and Executive Assistant |
| 8:30 a.m. | Barry meets with representatives of the BC Wildlife Federation |
| 9:30 a.m. | Barry meets with Ministry officials for briefing on Victoria sewage treatment project |
| 10:00 a.m. | Report to the House for the start of the day's sitting |
| 10:30 a.m. | Briefing with Ministry officials regarding Fraser River issues |
| 11:00 a.m. | Barry meets with Guide Outfitter's Association |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch with constiuent visiting Victoria |
| 1:00 p.m. | Afternoon Caucus Meeting in Caucus Room |
| 1:30 p.m. | Question period - report to the House |
| 3:00 p.m. | Meeting with Soliciter General about Provincial Emergency Program |
| 4:00 p.m. | Return to House to participate in Estimates Debate |
| 6:30 p.m. | House adjourns for the day |
| 6:35 p.m. | Barry meets with Deputy Minister to review Ministry budget |
| 7:30 p.m. | Barry reviews and signs correspondence at his office |
| 9:00 p.m. | Barry checks e-mail and makes a list of issues for next day. |
| 10:30 p.m. | Leave legislature, return to apartment for dinner. |
