Roles, Responsibilities and Process

The Cabinet, or Executive Council, consists of ministers chosen by the Premier to develop policy, new laws, and spending proposals. The Cabinet is "the government" in the parliamentary system. Traditionally elected MLAs are chosen as Cabinet Ministers in Canada.

As the Queen's provincial representative in Canada's constitutional monarchy, the Lieutenant Governor plays an important part in the Legislature. He or she opens session by reading the Speech from the Throne. The Lieutenant Governor also closes sessions, and dissolves the Assembly prior to an election. The Lieutenant Governor officially appoints and swears in the Premier and Cabinet, although it is the outcome of an election that determines who will be Premier, and the Premier selects the Cabinet Ministers. Bills passed in the Assembly do not become law until the Lieutenant Governor gives them Royal Assent. Finally, the Lieutenant Governor signs proclamations and other official documents.

Members of the Legislative Assembly make up the legislative, or law-making branch of our parliamentary system. Each is elected by a constituency and represents that constituency in the Assembly and spend most of their working hours in their constituencies, as they provide a link between their constituents and the government.

The balance of MLAs' work takes place in the Assembly Chamber during the session, taking part in question period, introducing and debating Bills, discussing government estimates, and moving amendments and motions. In modern Parliaments, MLAs have almost always voted along party lines because strict party discipline is considered necessary to ensure that the governing party remains in office.