Clerk's Office

The Clerk

The Clerk is the non-partisan chief permanent officer of the House of Assembly selected by the House of Assembly and appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. (House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, s. 7(1)).

In that capacity, the Clerk exercises responsibilities as Chief Parliamentary Advisor and Chief Administrative Officer.

As Chief Parliamentary Advisor, the Clerk interprets the Standing Orders, conventions, precedents and usages of the House in order to advise the Speaker and Members of the House on parliamentary procedure. The Clerk is also responsible for the preparation of the Order Paper and the Minutes of the proceedings of the House. The Clerk is charged, as specified in the Standing Orders, with the safekeeping of the papers and records of the House.

As the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Assembly, the Clerk is responsible for the provision of administrative, financial, human resource and other support services to the House of Assembly, its Members, and the Statutory Offices. The Clerk is also Secretary to the House of Assembly Management Commission.

The Office of the Clerk supports the activities of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. It co-ordinates the operation of, and provides support service to, Standing, Special and Select committees of the House of Assembly and provides full administrative support to the House of Assembly Management Commission. Duties range from the provision of advice to the Speaker on all Commission matters to the distribution and implementation of all Commission directives.

The Clerk of the House, the Clerk Assistant and the Law Clerk sit at the Clerk’s Table on the Floor of the Chamber when the House of Assembly is in session

General inquiries about the operation of the House of Assembly may be directed to:

Clerk of the House
House of Assembly
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
Phone: (709)729-3405
Email: ClerkHOA@gov.nl.ca