About: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. The speakership has changed many times: from 1876 to 1888 the presiding officer of the assembly was the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories (with North-West hyphenated name used until 1906); however, Members of the Legislative Assembly would also elect one of their own to act as chairman. Elected members held the Speakership from 1888 until 1905. The Deputy Commissioner of the Territories became Speaker and held that role from 1921 until 1975, when it was returned to the elected members.