DCHP-2

leg [lɛdʒ] Leg, Leg., leg., The Leg DCHP-2 (November 2016)

• 1 n. — abbreviation, Politics, informal

  abbreviation for 'legislature' or 'legislative assembly'; often the leg.

  Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The term leg is an abbreviation for "legislature" or "legislative assembly" (see the first 2004 quotation). The term appears to be occur frequently in newspaper headlines (see the 1987 and 1993 quotations), as seen in the earliest attestation of the term. In addition to being an abbreviation primarily for "legislature", which is 'the legislative body of a nation, province, etc' (see COD-2, s.v. "legislature" (1)), it is also used to refer to provincial legislative buildings, or buildings that host provincial legislative sessions (see the 2012 quotation, see meaning 2). Chart 1 shows that the term is used most frequently in Alberta, Manitoba, the Yukon and Nunavut, with PEI, Saskatchewan and BC also showing some use, as can be seen from the quotations as well.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "leg." which is marked "Cdn informal".

  See also: legislature  

  • This abbreviation appears to derive from newspaper headline language.

  • 1987  Ministers miss at Leg About 75 students turned out at the legislature last Friday for the Anti-Cutbacks Team (ACT) sponsored study-in. 
  • 1993  Thousands rally to oppose cuts Labour, Health care and social groups march to the Leg 
  • 2002  "We have certainly enjoyed the moments here in the leg (legislature). We've managed to turn a few heads." 
  • 2004  Back to the Leg A hard-won balanced budget will form the foundation of a strengthening economy in British Columbia and a solid re-election platform, say Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberals as they return to the legislature Tuesday. 
  • 2004  On my last full day in Iqaluit I set out eagerly to tour the legislative assembly, or "the Leg" (pronounced "ledge"), as it's known. 
  • 2005  Some weeks, such as recently, when the Union of BC Municipalities held their yearly conference, the legislature does not sit. When the Leg., as it's called, is not in session, I work out of my constituency office on Dewdney Trunk Road in Maple Ridge. 
  • 2006  This is not to say that he didn't enjoy confrontation. In the legislature, the premier was an aggressive debater, sometimes too aggressive; but the Leg is a unique environment, with its own rules, perfect for a trained lawyer with acuity for facts and figures. These skills, unfortunately, didn't always translate well when it came to meeting voters. 
  • 2010  'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Leg (short for legislature; sounds like ledge), the Tories were sleepless and feeling on edge. 
  • 2013  Parting MLAs bid adieu in final leg session 

• 2 n. — abbreviation, Politics, informal

  abbreviation for 'legislative building' or legislature grounds; often the Leg.

  Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The Leg is also used to refer to the legislative building, or 'the building in which a provincial legislature meets' (see COD-2, s.v. "legislative building"). It refers to the building where the meetings are held specifically (see the 2012 quotations) or the grounds on which the building is situated. The use of this abbreviation is clearly informal, as seen by the frequent use of quotation marks around "the Leg" (see the 2013 quotation).

  • 2000  But there was at least some of that same feeling in this community again as the B.C. Games came to a close yesterday on the legislature lawn. [...] "Greater Victoria should have a 10-year plan to host major events, both sport and cultural," says Jim Reed, the 1994 Commonwealth Games executive vice-president who was in yesterday afternoon's crowd at the leg supporting his daughter, Jessica, a member of the Island girls' field hockey team that won B.C. Games gold. 
  • 2002  Marion Love and her twin five-year-old boys Aapak and Nuq Arvalak took their position behind a security rope in the parking lot of "The Leg," lugging a large blue picnic cooler. 
  • 2004  "We're going swimming at the Leg and then we're going to see the fireworks," said Vickerman. 
  • 2006  "We want to make this, quite simply, the best legislature in the world," Oberg enthused as he launched an international competition to find a grand plan to tear down the aging Terrace Building and Legislature Annex, restore the majestic, long-empty Federal Building and revamp the leg grounds as a public park lined to the river valley. 
  • 2007  The 'Leg' is one of 50 nominations selected from among the tens of thousands submitted to the CBC contest, and it's one of only three buildings among the 50 nominations. 
  • 2012  The Legislative Building, known more commonly as the Legislature or to many as just 'The Leg,' is a symbol of Saskatchewan's determined past, said Harley Olsen, CEO of the Office of Provincial Capital Commission (OPCC). 
  • 2012  She and her niece, Alice Mitchell, showed their pride as they celebrated the Party Under the Dome marking the Alberta Legislature Building's 100th birthday. "He would be amazed, so amazed, if he could see all this now," said Nelson, 90, now Fraser's only living child. Affectionately known as the Leg, the building has not only housed the workings of provincial politics, but has served as the photographic backdrop to generations of Edmontonians' weddings and graduations. 
  • 2012  And looking over it all is the magnificent presence of "the leg." Always a beautiful building from any angle, it presents a warm face to those on the surface of the river. 
  • 2013  Accused's Lawyer Believes Leg Bomb Plot Involved RCMP Sting "I think it's fair to say yes, this involved undercover, Mr. Big type covert operations." -- Tom Morino, lawyer for B.C. Legislature bomb plot accused John Nuttall
    Did you know that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has a target of six disruptions of "terrorist criminal activities" this fiscal year? No doubt one of those six disruptions happened when the RCMP arrested John Nuttall and Amanda Korody on charges of plotting to explode pressure-cooker bombs outside the B.C. Legislature on July 1 during Canada Day celebrations. 
  • 2013  The B.C. Legislature is one of the must see echoes of the past and present, and does, thankfully - in a city that's not shy in charging the tourist top dollar for its attractions - offer a free guided tour. Nearby "The Leg" is Thunderbird Park, home to many spectacular and fascinating totem poles and monuments from various First Nations.