Premier of British Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Premier of British Columbia |
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Coat of arms of British Columbia
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| Office of the Premier | |
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| Seat | Victoria |
| Appointer | Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
(with the confidence of the British Columbia Legislature)
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| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure
(contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly)
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| Formation | November 13, 1871 |
| First holder | John Foster McCreight |
| Deputy | Deputy premier of British Columbia |
| Salary | $218,587.27 |
| Website | Office of the Premier |
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The Premier of British Columbia is the main leader of the government for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Think of them as the head of the provincial team. Before the 1970s, this leader was often called the prime minister of British Columbia. The word "premier" comes from a French word meaning "first."
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How the Premier Leads the Province
Even though the Premier is the daily leader of the government, their power comes from the the Crown (which means the King or Queen). In British Columbia, the King or Queen is represented by the Lieutenant Governor. Officially, the government's power rests with the Lieutenant Governor, who acts on the advice of the Premier and their team.
The job of Premier isn't fully described in Canada's laws. Instead, it's a tradition. The leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the Legislative Assembly is usually asked by the Lieutenant Governor to form the government. This means they get to lead the province.
What Does the Premier Do?
The Premier has many important jobs. They are like the captain of a big team that runs the province.
Here are some of their main responsibilities:
- Choosing Ministers: The Premier suggests who should be appointed or removed as ministers to the Lieutenant Governor. Ministers are like managers for different parts of the government.
- Leading the Cabinet: The Premier is the head of the Executive Council, also known as the provincial Cabinet. This is a group of ministers who make big decisions together.
- Making Plans: They lead the creation and putting into action of government plans and goals for the province.
- Talking to Others: The Premier is the main person who shares the government's plans. They talk between the Lieutenant Governor and the Cabinet. They also talk with leaders from other provinces and the national government. Sometimes, they even talk with leaders from other countries.
Working with the Cabinet
The Premier usually picks members of their party from the Legislative Assembly to become ministers. These ministers are then officially appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. Each minister is in charge of a specific government department, like the Ministry of Forests.
Ministers are responsible for the daily work of their departments. They also suggest new laws or changes to existing ones. Sometimes, the Premier might choose someone who isn't a member of the Legislative Assembly to be a minister. If this happens, that person usually tries to get a seat in the Assembly soon after.
The Premier chooses ministers based on their skills and experience. They also consider things like where the person is from, their gender, and their background. A minister stays in their job as long as the Premier wants them to. If the Premier resigns, all the other ministers also resign.
See also
- Prime Minister of Canada
- Premier (Canada)
- List of premiers of British Columbia
