Attorney General of British Columbia
The attorney general of British Columbia (AG) oversees the Ministry of Attorney General, a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. The attorney general is a member of the provincial cabinet, typically a member of Legislative Assembly who is chosen by the premier of British Columbia and formally appointed by the lieutenant governor of British Columbia.
Attorney General of British Columbia | |
---|---|
Formation | 1859 |
First holder | George Hunter Cary |
The attorney general is responsible for ensuring that public administration is conducted according to the law and as such, they are the chief advisor of law to the government, in addition to overseeing the court system and Sheriff Service.[1] Under the King's Counsel Act, the attorney general is automatically appointed a King's Counsel upon swearing into office.[2] The attorney general also serves as an ex officio bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia. A separate cabinet position, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, administers the province's law enforcement agencies (police, prisons and security).
Since December 7, 2022, the post has been held by Niki Sharma.
List of attorneys general of the Colony of British Columbia
- George Hunter Cary; 1859–1861
- Henry Pering Pellew Crease; 1861–1870
- George Phillippo; 1870–1871
List of attorneys general of the province of British Columbia
- John Foster McCreight; 1871–1872
- George Anthony Walkem; 1871–1874
- A. E. B. Davie; 1882–(1887?)
- John Roland Hett; c. 1883
- Theodore Davie; 1889–1892
- Joseph Martin; 1898–1900
- Albert Edward McPhillips; (1900?)–1903
- Charles Wilson; 1903–1906
- Frederick John Fulton; 1906–1907
- William John Bowser; 1907–1915
- Malcolm Archibald Macdonald; 1915–1917
- John Wallace de Beque Farris; 1917–1922
- Alexander Malcolm Manson; 1922–1928
- Gordon Sloan; 1933–1937
- Gordon Wismer; 1937–1941
- Royal Lethington Maitland; 1941–1946
- Gordon Wismer; 1946–1952
- Robert Bonner; 1952–1968
- Leslie Peterson; 1968–1972
- Alex MacDonald; 1972–1975
- Garde Gardom; 1975–1979
- Allan Williams; 1979–1983
- Brian Smith; 1983–1988
- Bud Smith; 1988–1990
- Russell Fraser; 1990–1991
- Colin Gabelmann; 1991–1995
- Ujjal Dosanjh; 1995–2000
- Andrew Petter; 2000
- Graeme Bowbrick; 2000–2001
- Geoff Plant; 2001–2005
- Wally Oppal; 2005–2009
- Mike de Jong; 2009–2010
- Barry Penner; 2010–2011
- Shirley Bond; 2011–2013
- Suzanne Anton; 2013–2017
- Andrew Wilkinson; 2017
- David Eby; 2017–2022
- Murray Rankin; 2022
- Niki Sharma; since 2022
References
- Ministry of Attorney General (2023-02-28). "Attorney General - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Victoria: Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- King's Counsel Act, RSBC 1996, c. 393, s. 1