Office of the Clerk‪.‬

George MacMinn is Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Robert Vaive is Clerk Assistant of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly and President of the Association of Clerks-at-the Table in Canada. The Clerks of Canada's Parliament and legislative assemblies are committed to serve parliamentary institutions with political impartiality, dedication and sincere respect. In fulfilling this role during often passionate parliamentary debate, the Clerk sits alone at the Table, never uttering a word, never speaking unless called upon to do so by the Speaker. Clerks are not players in the political arena and their names are seldom engraved for posterity. They are the ever-present, ever-watchful managers of the interaction evolving before them on the floor of the House, sometimes rowdy activity, sometimes dull and passive, sometimes abusive of parliamentary procedure - and sometimes dramatic and touching. Clerks are the silent facilitators of these political exchanges which they attempt to shape into proper parliamentary form, thus discreetly helping to preserve parliamentary democracy. This is the Clerk's single-minded resolve-respect for Parliament. This article looks at the origins of the office in the Great Britain and at some of the individuals who have held the office in Canadian legislatures, and how the office has evolved in recent years.