The tasks of provincial executive members
Each member of the provincial executive has responsibility for a specific area of policy, such as spatial planning, traffic and transportation, or the natural environment. At meetings of the provincial executive each member pursues the interests of their particular policy area.
The provincial executive prepares, administers and supervises
The provincial executive prepares and then implements council decisions. It also implements many national laws and regulations – these are its so-called ‘joint administration’ tasks. In addition, it supervises municipal authorities and has the power to appoint and dismiss public servants.
The provincial council, which consists of directly elected representatives, holds the provincial executive to account. Members of the executive have a duty to keep the provincial council informed about their work. The Provinces Act sets out provincial executive members’ tasks in full.
Division of roles between provincial executive and provincial council
Members of the provincial executive are not permitted to be members of the
provincial council. This ensures separation between the tasks of the council and
the executive. This separation of powers enables the council to carry out its
important task of holding the provincial executive to account.
This is laid down in the Provincial Authorities (Separation of Powers) Act.