Jackie Tegart, who serves as the MLA for Fraser-Nicola, including Merritt, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for the BC Legislature.

“It is an incredible honour to be entrusted with a position that is so crucial to our political process,” said Tegart, who was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017 and 2020. “There are some incredible MLAs who have served as the Assistant Deputy Speaker in the past. I am committed to carrying out my role with the same fairness, impartiality, and respect for our legislative rules and proceedings that my predecessors all showed.”

In her new position, Tegart will chair meetings as the representative for the Official Opposition. It is the duty of the Assistant Deputy Speaker to preside over daily sessions of the House, and oversee debates and proceedings when the Deputy Speaker or Speaker themself is not in the chair.