B.C. NDP, Greens, to announce details of minority deal - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 11:09 AM | Calgary | -10.8°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
British Columbia

B.C. NDP, Greens, to announce details of minority deal

B.C.'s New Democratic Party MLAs will work with the three B.C. Green Party MLAs to try and form the province's first minority government in more than half a century.

Christy Clark has already announced plans to stay on while conceding the Liberals will likely lose power

British Columbians will find out more today about the agreement that will likely seeB.C.'s New Democratic Party MLAs work with their three B.C. Green Party colleagues in the province's first minority government in morethan half a century.

NDP Leader John Horgan and Green Leader Andrew Weaver announcedthe pact yesterday, saying it will create a stable minoritygovernment capable of surviving until the next scheduled election infour years.

Weaver said the other two Green MLAs have already approved the agreement and the New Democrat caucus votes on it today.

Details of the arrangement will be announced afterthe vote at2p.m. PT, and will be live streamedhere.

John Horgan addresses the NDP caucus in advance of the vote to ratify an agreement to work with the B.C. Greens in the next legislature. (Mike McArthur/CBC)

The NDP/Green coalition has 44 seats in the legislature, while the Liberals have 43.

Prior to the vote,Horganappearedbuoyant and was all smiles as he addressed the media and NDP caucus.

"I'm optimistic and I'm excited," said Horgan. "Today, our caucus of 41 New Democrats will vote to ratify the agreement to bring stability to the legislature ... and deliver what we campaigned on.

"I say to those British Columbians who have been waiting to have access to government without having to write a cheque, help is on the way."

Clark not ready to concede?

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Christy Clark is not immediately conceding defeat.

At an afternoon press conference Clark announced she will stay on a premier, although she did admit her party would likely lose a non-confidence vote in the legislature.

With just a single seat separating the NDP and Greens from theLiberals, analysts say it would take just one New Democrat or Greento miss a ferry or be unexpectedly delayed and Clark's Liberalscould survive a confidence vote.