Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is the unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.[1] It meets in the Confederation Building in St. John's. Bills passed by the assembly are given royal assent by the King of Canada in Right of Newfoundland and Labrador, represented by the lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.[2]
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly | |
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50th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
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Type | |
Type | Lower house (1832–1934) then unicameral house of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador |
History | |
Founded | 1832 |
Leadership | |
Government House Leader | |
Opposition House Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 40 |
Political groups | Government
Official Opposition Others |
Elections | |
Last election | March 25, 2021 |
Next election | 2025 |
Meeting place | |
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Colonial Building (1850-1959) Confederation Building (1959–present) | |
Website | |
www |
The governing party sits on the left side of the speaker of the House of Assembly as opposed to the traditional right side of the speaker. This tradition dates back to the 1850s as the heaters in the Colonial Building were located on the left side. Thus, the government chose to sit near the heat, and leave the opposition sitting in the cold.
Homes of Legislature
Before 1850 the legislature has sat at various locations including Mary Travers' tavern on Duckworth Street across from War Memorial 1832, St. John's Court House (at Duckworth and Church Hill) from 1833 to 1846, a building on southwest corner of Water Street and Prescott Street (since replaced with office building) and the site of the former St. Patrick’s Hall on Queen’s Road and Garrison Hill (demolished and replace by current building 1880[3]).
Permanent homes of the legislature, Confederation Building and Colonial Building, are the only surviving structures.
Constituencies
Members represent one electoral district each.
Seating plan
Current as of March 2022[4]
Current members (MHAs)


Party leaders' names are written in bold and cabinet ministers in italic, with the Speaker of the House of Assembly designated by a dagger (†).
Seat total and official layout
Party | Leader | Seats | ||
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March 25, 2021 | Current | |||
Liberal | Andrew Furey | 23 | 23 | |
Progressive Conservative | David Brazil | 13 | 12 | |
New Democratic | Jim Dinn | 2 | 3 | |
Independent | N/A | 2 | 2 | |
Vacant | N/A | 0 | 0 | |
Members | 40 | 40 |
See also
References
- Maher, David. "You could say the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is in its 'infant' stage | The Chronicle Herald". www.thechronicleherald.ca. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- Newfoundland Act, 12-13 Geo. VI [1949], c. 22 (U.K.), Sch. 1 (Terms of Union) s. 14
- "History – Benevolent Irish Society". Archived from the original on August 11, 2020.
- "Seating Plan". Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.