Welcome to the Parliament Buildings, home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia where elected representatives – called Members of the Legislative Assembly or MLAs – meet to shape the future of the province by debating and passing the laws that govern British Columbia.
The Parliament Buildings and surrounding areas are located on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen-speaking (pronounced Le-KWUNG-en) peoples. Now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, these Coast Salish people have a rich culture and history dating back thousands of years.
Hours of Operation
The Parliament Buildings are open to the public between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday.
Visitors are welcome to join a free guided tour, take their own self-guided tour, enjoy breakfast or lunch in the Parliamentary Dining Room, or to observe proceedings of the Legislative Assembly in the Public Gallery. Please see below for more information.
The Parliament Buildings are closed on weekends and holidays.
Guided Tours
Guided tours for the public are free and last approximately 40 minutes.
Please see the tour schedule for daily tour times and for more information on how to join.
School groups and groups of 15 or more people should book a tour in advance.
Self-Guided Tours
Visitors are welcome to take their own self-guided tour at any time between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays), year-round. Self-guided tour books are available in a variety of languages at the Tour Desk.
Special Programs and Events
Please visit our Special Programs and Events page to find out more and to register.
Parliamentary Dining Room
The Parliamentary Dining Room is open from Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch. Reservations are recommended. Please call 250-387-3959 or book online.
To visit the Dining Room, please enter through the accessible entrance, located to the right of the front steps.
Parliamentary Gift Shop
The Parliamentary Gift Shop offers a variety of gifts that are custom made for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Please visit our shop adjacent to the exit on the main floor.
Public Gallery
Visitors are welcome to observe proceedings from the Public Galleries. Please check the Parliamentary Calendar for the most up-to-date meeting schedule.
Question Period lasts 30 minutes and takes place at the following times:
-
Monday and Wednesday, shortly after the start of the afternoon sitting at 1:30 p.m.
-
Tuesday and Thursday, shortly after the start of the morning sitting at 10:00 a.m
Visitors can also observe Parliamentary Committee meetings. Public meetings of Parliamentary Committees are listed in the Committee Meeting Calendar.
Accessibility
The Parliament Buildings are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs and scooters, those with limited mobility, and children in strollers.
-
The accessible entrance can be reached from the front driveway on the west side of the Parliament Buildings (to the right of the front steps).
-
The best place to park, or be dropped off, is immediately beside the property on Menzies Street. There is no public parking on the property.
-
Visitors are welcome to bring supportive devices or service animals.
- An accessible washroom is located in the east hallway on the second floor.
-
If you want to see more of the interior of the Parliament Buildings before you arrive, please visit our virtual tour page.
If you have any questions or need assistance during your visit, please speak with a member of our staff.