Horgan and Weaver visit Government House with power-sharing agreement

Confidence motion is next step in drama

VICTORIA — The B.C. NDP and Green leaders took their power-sharing deal to Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon on Wednesday to try to convince her to let them govern once the Liberal government is defeated.

NDP Leader John Horgan and Green Leader Andrew Weaver visited Government House with a copy of the accord that the 44 MLAs from both parties signed Tuesday.

A representative for Guichon accepted the documents on her behalf.

Horgan said the move is important “so the lieutenant-governor knows with certainty that there’s a majority group of MLAs that are prepared to form a government,” said Horgan.

“That is critically important in this process.”

The deal between the two parties means they have a one-seat advantage over Christy Clark’s Liberals and intend to defeat her on a confidence vote when the legislature reconvenes next month. Such a vote would force Clark to resign as premier.

Guichon would then have a choice of whether to call a new election or ask Horgan to govern with the support of the Greens.

Constitutional experts have said that Guichon would be more likely to give Horgan a chance if Clark’s resignation falls within a six-month window after the May 9 election. However, it’s also within her power to simply send the entire issue back to the electorate for a new vote.

As premier, Clark gets the first shot at recalling the legislature to test the confidence of her government to pass a throne speech and budget.

Clark said Tuesday she intends to do just that, and if she is defeated by a GreenNDP alliance she will make sure it’s done publicly on the floor of the legislature and not through backroom deals between political parties.