Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
50th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador
Type
Type	Lower house (1832–1934) then unicameral house of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador
History
Founded	1832; 193 years ago (1832)
Leadership
Speaker	Derek Bennett, Liberal Since April 12, 2021
Premier	Andrew Furey, Liberal Since August 19, 2020
Leader of the Opposition	David Brazil, Progressive Conservative Since April 12, 2021
Government House Leader	Steve Crocker, Liberal Since August 19, 2020
Opposition House Leader	Barry Petten, Progressive Conservative Since April 12, 2021
Structure
Seats	40
Political groups	Government      Liberal (22) Official Opposition      Progressive Conservative (12) Others      New Democratic (3)      Independent (3)
Elections
Last election	March 25, 2021
Next election	2025
Meeting place
Colonial Building (1850-1959) Confederation Building (1959–present)

The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is where the laws for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, are made. It's like the province's main meeting place for making important decisions. This assembly is part of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador.

It meets in the Confederation Building in St. John's. When the assembly passes a new law, it needs a special approval called "royal assent." This approval comes from the Queen of Canada, represented by the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.

There's a cool tradition in the House of Assembly: the party that is in charge (the governing party) sits on the left side of the Speaker. This is different from many other parliaments where they sit on the right. This tradition started way back in the 1850s in the old Colonial Building. The heaters were on the left side, so the government members chose to sit where it was warm, leaving the opposition members in the colder seats!

What is the House of Assembly?

The House of Assembly is a unicameral body. This means it has only one main group of members who discuss and vote on laws. It's where elected officials, called Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs), represent the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Their main job is to create, debate, and vote on laws that affect everyone in the province.

Where Does the Legislature Meet?

Over the years, the legislature has met in several places. Before 1850, they met in various buildings, including a tavern and the old St. John's Court House.

Historic and Current Buildings

The two most important and lasting homes for the legislature are the Colonial Building and the Confederation Building.

• The Colonial Building was used from 1850 to 1959. It's a beautiful historic building.
• Since 1959, the House of Assembly has met in the Confederation Building. This is where all the important debates and decisions happen today.

How are Members Chosen?

The House of Assembly has 40 members. Each member represents a specific area of the province called an electoral district. People in each district vote for the person they want to represent them in the House of Assembly. These elected representatives are called Members of the House of Assembly, or MHAs for short.

Key Roles in the House

Inside the House of Assembly, some members have special jobs:

• The Premier is the leader of the political party that has the most seats. They are the head of the provincial government.
• The Speaker is like the referee of the debates. They make sure everyone follows the rules and that discussions are fair.
• The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the second-largest party. Their job is to question the government and offer different ideas.

Current Political Parties and Seats

As of March 2022, there are 40 seats in the House of Assembly. Here's how the seats are currently divided among the political parties:

• The Liberal Party holds 22 seats. Their leader, Andrew Furey, is the current Premier.
• The Progressive Conservative Party holds 12 seats. Their leader, David Brazil, is the Leader of the Opposition.
• The New Democratic Party holds 3 seats. Their leader is Jim Dinn.
• There are also 3 members who are Independent, meaning they don't belong to any political party.

Images for kids

• 

  The Colonial Building, a former home of the House of Assembly.

• 

  The Newfoundland House of Assembly inside the Colonial Building, around 1914.