The leaders of the BC Greens and the BC NDP intend to form a minority government.
In an election that was too close to call on May 9, the BC Liberals emerged with 43 seats, the BC NDP with 41 and the BC Greens with three after absentee ballots were counted and a recount was completed in Courtenay-Comox.
WATCH: John Horgan and Andrew Weaver announce deal
Horgan said that a “four year framework around budgeting and supply” has been agreed upon. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver said that details will be available tomorrow, after the BC NDP caucus officially signs the deal. Weaver said that although he saw commonalities with the Liberals, he felt that that the Green’s values were more in line with the NDP.
“We specifically did not ask for there to be a coalition,” said Weaver.
“[The legislature] can be an adversarial place… we have the opportunity now to fix that,” said Horgan.
I am thrilled to be working with John Horgan and the @bcndp so that BC can have a stable minority government for four years. #bcpoli https://t.co/GhQjKxtUkw
— Andrew Weaver (@AJWVictoriaBC) May 29, 2017
In terms of what will happen in regards to BC Liberal leader Christy Clark’s role, NDP leader John Horgan said that “the premier will have some choices to make.”
In an emailed statement, Clark said that it was crucial the B.C. residents see “the specific details of the agreement announced today” by Horgan and Weaver.
“As the incumbent government, and the party with the most seats in the legislature, we have a responsibility to carefully consider our next steps,” Clark said. “I will consult on those steps with the newly elected BC Liberal caucus, and have more to say tomorrow.”
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Horgan said steps have to be taken before he can consider the idea of becoming premier. Clark is expected to be given the first opportunity to govern based on the election result and incumbency, and could challenge the opposition to defeat a throne speech or budget in the legislature.
Weaver wouldn’t comment on the issues in the agreement, but noted that the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project is important to him. Both the NDP and Greens opposed the project in the election campaign, but it is a federally governed project.