Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is the seat of elected government in the Northwest Territories. Members are elected every four years from each of 19 ridings to serve in a unique consensus government that is studied and admired the world over. It is essentially a parliament led by a permanent minority; members elect seven Cabinet ministers and a Speaker fr... om their own ranks. As one of Canadas youngest legislatures, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories changed frequently in its early years. Members were added and the Assemblys responsibilities grew, but it was without a permanent home until 1993 when the current building was completed in Yellowknife. It has become a landmark and a symbol of a stable, responsible government that is close to the people it serves: the average riding has just over 2,300 residents. Read "One Land, Many Voices: Creating the New Northwest Territories", which charts the history of NWT's Legislative Assembly from the 14th - 16th Assemblies. It's a follow-up to "History in the Making: Under Northern Skies The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories", which traced the political evolution of the NWT Legislative Assembly from the appointment and election of the first council in 1951 to the dissolution of the 13th Assembly the last to include members from Nunavut.Read More