The attorney general of British Columbia (AG) oversees the Ministry of Attorney General, a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. The attorney general is a member of the provincial cabinet, typically a member of Legislative Assembly who is chosen by the premier of British Columbia and formally appointed by the lieutenant governor of British Columbia.
The attorney general is responsible for ensuring that public administration is conducted according to the law and as such, they are the chief advisor of law to the government, in addition to overseeing the court system and Sheriff Service. Under the King's Counsel Act, the attorney general is automatically appointed a King's Counsel upon swearing into office. The attorney general also serves as an ex officio bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia. A separate cabinet position, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, administers the province's law enforcement agencies (police, prisons and security).
Since December 7, 2022, the post has been held by Niki Sharma.
List of attorneys general of the Colony of British Columbia
George Hunter Cary; 1859–1861
Henry Pering Pellew Crease; 1861–1870
George Phillippo; 1870–1871
List of attorneys general of the province of British Columbia
John Foster McCreight; 1871–1872
George Anthony Walkem; 1871–1874
A. E. B. Davie; 1882–(1887?) John Roland Hett; Theodore Davie; 1889–1892 Joseph Martin; 1898–1900 Albert Edward McPhillips; (1900?)–1903 Charles Wilson; 1903–1906 Frederick John Fulton; 1906–1907 William John Bowser; 1907–1915 Malcolm Archibald Macdonald; 1915–1917 John Wallace de Beque Farris; 1917–1922 Alexander Malcolm Manson; 1922–1928 Gordon Sloan; 1933–1937 Gordon Wismer; 1937–1941 Royal Lethington Maitland; 1941–1946 Gordon Wismer; 1946–1952 Robert Bonner; 1952–1968 Leslie Peterson; 1968–1972 Alex MacDonald; 1972–1975 Garde Gardom; 1975–1979 Allan Williams; 1979–1983 Brian Smith; 1983–1988 Bud Smith; 1988–1990 Russell Fraser; 1990–1991 Colin Gabelmann; 1991–1995 Ujjal Dosanjh; 1995–2000 Andrew Petter; 2000 Graeme Bowbrick; 2000–2001 Geoff Plant; 2001–2005 Wally Oppal; 2005–2009 Mike de Jong; 2009–2010 Barry Penner; 2010–2011 Shirley Bond; 2011–2013 Suzanne Anton; 2013–2017 Andrew Wilkinson; 2017 David Eby; 2017–2022 Murray Rankin; 2022 Niki Sharma; since 2022