British Columbia decides to go without a legislature for the rest of the year
The British Columbia government announced today that it won’t recall the province’s legislature this fall, meaning that the legislature will likely conclude 2013 having sat for a total of 36 days. Mark Jarvis wrote in January about why it mattered how often the legislature was in session.
Provincial legislatures tend not to sit as often as the House of Commons does, but 36 days in 2013 would still be the shortest legislative year for B.C. since 2001 (when it also sat for 36 days). There also aren’t too many examples this century of other provinces sitting for fewer days: Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 (33 days), PEI in 2011 (28 days), Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007 (34 days), PEI in 2007 (27 days), Manitoba in 2003 (35 days), Newfoundland and Labrador in 2003 (25 days), Newfoundland and Labrador in 2000 (34 days) and PEI in 2000 (35 days).
In fairness, a 36-day legislative year is not wildly below the shortest years this century for the other provinces:
Ontario, 51 days (2003)
Quebec, 46 days (2003)
Alberta, 38 days (2001)
Saskatchewan, 48 days (2011)
Nova Scotia, 37 days (2006)
New Brunswick, 41 days (2011)