MLA Tegart honoured to be selected Assistant Deputy Speaker by colleagues

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart will be serving as the Assistant Deputy Speaker in the B.C. Legislature as she was selected by her peers in the Liberal Caucus. The move means Tegart will no longer be serving as the Opposition Critic for Education, a role she has held since the 2020 election.

“Very honoured to take on that role. I have been part of the legislative management team as Caucus Chair in the past. So, I’m quite excited to learn the new things and see where the role takes me. But it truly is an honour to be nominated by the party,” said Tegart.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker presides over daily sessions of the House and oversees debates and proceedings when the Deputy Speaker or the Speaker himself is not in the chair.

“Our job is to ensure that the business of the legislature is done in a orderly and respectful way. The Assistant Deputy Speaker does sit in the seat of the speaker and is the chair of whatever is going on in the house,” said Tegart. “It is a role that requires you to be non-partisan, to be fair and to under Robert’s Rules of Order and how the legislature works.”

“I know i have a lot to learn, but I’m very honoured to take on this role,” added Tegart.

The new session of the B.C. Legislature began on Tuesday (Feb. 8) with a speech from the throne.