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The BC Greens and New Democrats caused a political earthquake on Monday when they announced they would form an alliance to govern the Province for the next four years.
But what will this alliance look like and how will an NDP minority govern B.C.?
Well, on Tuesday the two parties unveiled the contents of their historic agreement in a package entitled the 2017 Confidence and Supply Agreement.
This agreement outlines the basis and terms by which the BC Greens will agree to support an NDP minority government.
Our agreement with the @BCGreens is the first of its kind in BC history. I want you to be a part of it. https://t.co/aGS1Jnajql #BetterBC pic.twitter.com/dVLNyYL4Qy
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) May 30, 2017
The first key points to note about this agreement is that it doesn't lay out the full program of an NDP government and it doesn’t presume that the BC Greens will support initiatives not found in the agreement. Essentially, what this means is that the BC Greens are only expected to support initiatives that both parties have agreed to in the package.
So, what are the initiatives the NDP have agreed to advance as a condition of support by the BC Greens?
Here’s the full list of legislative and policy initiatives:
- Reforming B.C.’s electoral system, getting the influence of big money out of politics, and reforming lobbying rules
- Recognizing education as being about lifelong learning and fast-tracking enhancement to K-12 education funding
- Protecting and promoting public health care, creating a proposal for an essential drugs program, and giving families the security of quality, affordable child care
- Improving public transit
- Giving more attention to the opioid crisis
- Establishing an Emerging Economy Task Force and an Innovation Commission
- Eliminating Medical Services Premiums
- Implementing a basic income pilot project
- Fighting climate change while creating jobs and introducing rebate cheques that will mean most people pay less while increasing the carbon tax beginning in 2018
- Sending the Site C project immediately to an independent review
- Opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project
According to Green leader Andrew Weaver, the agreement establishes a relationship of good faith and no surprises between the two parties.
"This agreement establishes a relationship of 'good faith and no surprises' between the B.C. Green caucus and a B.C. New Democrat government,” said Weaver. “It is our hope that it becomes a model for future B.C. governments, where working across party lines is quite ordinary. I have always believed we are better off when diverse views can be represented at the table. This is a new era for politics in BC - one where British Columbians are truly the winners.”
To review the full contents of the agreement, click here.
The Green-NDP alliance means it’s almost certain that the NDP will govern B.C. with a minority government, ending 16 years of Liberal rule.
However, despite the recent turn of events, Liberal leader Christy Clark has promised not to resign. Instead, Clark has said she will call a meeting of the house in the coming weeks to test its confidence.
“We have a duty to meet the house and to test its confidence, constitutional convention tells us that. And I intend to do that in very short order, certainly before the end maybe closer to the beginning of the month of June,” said Clark.
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) May 30, 2017
“We all know that Mr. Horgan and Mr. Weaver have made an agreement, they've announced a significant deal. But... if there is going to be a transfer of power in this province, and certainly it seems like there will be, it shouldn't be done behind closed doors. It should happen in public and constitutional convention tells us it should.”
If Clark can’t win the confidence of the House, it is highly probably that the Lieutenant-Governor will ask John Horgan if he can gain the confidence of the house and lead B.C. as the new Premier.
With all NDP and Green legislatures seemingly in agreement to oust Clark, it's almost certain that Clark is on course to lose the confidence vote.
My dear friends & colleagues @AdamPOlsen & @SoniaFurstenau have now signed letter to LG guaranteeing confidence to minority govt. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/PtIGIScSIc
— Andrew Weaver (@AJWVictoriaBC) May 30, 2017
If this is the case, the Greens and the NDP will likely go on to govern B.C. with a combined total of 44 seats - the slimmest possible majority.
To read more about the recent political developments as well as Christy Clark’s statement regarding the Green-NDP Alliance, click here.
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