Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (, or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia, and together with the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia makes up the Nova Scotia Legislature.

The assembly is the oldest in Canada, having first sat in 1758;How Canadians Govern Themselves in 1848, it was the site of the first responsible government in the British Empire. Bills passed by the House of Assembly are given royal assent by the lieutenant governorConstitution Act, 1867, ss. 69 & 88; Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the name of the King of Canada.

Originally (in 1758), the Legislature consisted of the Crown represented by a governor (later a lieutenant governor), the appointed Nova Scotia Council holding both executive and legislative duties and an elected House of Assembly (lower chamber). In 1838, the council was replaced by an executive council with the executive function and a legislative council with the legislative functions based on the House of Lords. In 1928, the Legislative Council was abolished and the members pensioned off.

There are 56 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) representing 56 electoral districts.Chapter 32 of Nova Scotia Acts of 2019 Members nearly always represent one of the three main political parties of the province: the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.

The assembly meets in Province House. Located in Halifax, Province House is a National Historic Site and Canada's oldest and smallest legislative building. It opened on February 11, 1819. The building was also originally home to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and the location of the "Freedom of the Press" trial of Joseph Howe. Its main entrance is found on Hollis Street in Halifax.

Officers A number of officers of the house are appointed in accordance with legislation passed by the house. These officers fulfil numerous functions as prescribed in the relevant legislation. There are two categories of officers:

Officers under the authority of the speaker The Speaker of the House has authority over the following offices and officers:

Clerk Hansard House Operations Legislative Committees Legislative Counsel Legislative Library Legislative Television Broadcasting Services Sergeant-at-Arms Speaker's Administration Office

Independent officers These include the Auditor General, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Nova Scotia as head of Elections Nova Scotia is also appointed by a majority vote of the house and is considered an officer of the house.

Party standings Affiliation MembersProgressive Conservative 43New Democratic 9 Liberal 3Independent 1Vacant 0Total 56Government majority +29

Current members Riding Member PartyFirst elected / previously elected NotesAnnapolisDavid BowlbyProgressive Conservative2024AntigonishMichelle ThompsonProgressive Conservative2021ArgyleColton LeBlancProgressive Conservative2019Bedford BasinTim OuthitProgressive Conservative2024Bedford SouthDamian StoilovProgressive Conservative2024Cape Breton Centre-Whitney PierKendra CoombesNDP2020Cape Breton EastBrian ComerProgressive Conservative2019Chester-St. Margaret'sDanielle BarkhouseProgressive Conservative2021Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant BayClaude BourgeoisProgressive Conservative2026ClareRyan RobicheauProgressive Conservative2024Clayton Park WestAdegoke FadareProgressive Conservative2024Colchester-Musquodoboit ValleyScott ArmstrongProgressive Conservative2024Colchester NorthTom TaggartProgressive Conservative2021Cole Harbour-DartmouthBrad McGowanProgressive Conservative2024Cole HarbourLeah MartinProgressive Conservative2024Cumberland NorthElizabeth Smith-McCrossinIndependent2017Cumberland SouthTory RushtonProgressive Conservative2018Dartmouth EastTim HalmanProgressive Conservative2017Dartmouth NorthSusan LeblancNDP2017Dartmouth SouthClaudia ChenderNDP2017Leader of the OppositionDigby-AnnapolisJill BalserProgressive Conservative2021Eastern PassageBarbara AdamsProgressive Conservative2017Eastern ShoreKent SmithProgressive Conservative2021Fairview-Clayton ParkLina HamidNDP2024Glace Bay-DominionJohn WhiteProgressive Conservative2021Guysborough-TracadieGreg MorrowProgressive Conservative2021Halifax ArmdaleRod WilsonNDP2024Halifax AtlanticBrendan MaguireProgressive Conservative2013 Halifax ChebuctoKrista GallagherNDP2024Halifax Citadel-Sable IslandLisa LachanceNDP2021Halifax NeedhamSuzy HansenNDP2021Hammonds Plains-LucasvilleRick BurnsProgressive Conservative2024Hants EastJohn A. MacDonaldProgressive Conservative2021Hants WestMelissa Sheehy-RichardProgressive Conservative2021InvernessKyle MacQuarrieProgressive Conservative2024Kings NorthJohn LohrProgressive Conservative2013Kings SouthJulie VanexanProgressive Conservative2024Kings WestChris PalmerProgressive Conservative2021Lunenburg Susan Corkum-GreekProgressive Conservative2021Lunenburg WestBecky DruhanLiberal2021Northside-WestmountFred TilleyProgressive Conservative2021 Pictou CentreDanny MacGillivrayProgressive Conservative2024Pictou EastTim HoustonProgressive Conservative2013Premier of Nova ScotiaPictou WestMarco MacLeodProgressive Conservative2024PrestonTwila GrosseProgressive Conservative2023QueensKim MaslandProgressive Conservative2017RichmondTrevor BoudreauProgressive Conservative2021Sackville-CobequidPaul WozneyNDP2024Sackville-UniackeBrad JohnsProgressive Conservative2017ShelburneNolan YoungProgressive Conservative2021Sydney-MembertouDerek MombourquetteLiberal2015Timberlea-ProspectIain RankinLiberal2013Interim Leader of the Liberal PartyTruro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon RiverDave RitceyProgressive Conservative2020Victoria-The LakesDianne TimminsProgressive Conservative2024Waverley-Fall River-BeaverbankBrian WongProgressive Conservative2021YarmouthNick HiltonProgressive Conservative2024

Committees

Standing Committees Assembly Matters Community Services Natural Resources and Economic Development Health Human Resources Internal Affairs Law Amendments Private & Local Bills Public Accounts Veterans Affairs

Committees of the Whole House Bills Supply Supply Subcommittee

Select Committee

Recent Former Select Committees (final reports filed) Electoral Boundaries Fire Safety National Unity Petroleum Product Pricing Workers' Compensation Act

Special Committee to Review the Estimates of the Auditor General and the Chief Electoral Officer

Seating plan

Current as of September 2026

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Bron en licentie