Battle over LNG between NDP and Greens heats up
What started as a simmering political scuffle has come to a boil with B.C. Green party leader Andrew Weaver warning Premier John Horgan in no uncertain terms that his government will fall if he continues “cheerleading” for a liquefied natural gas industry in B.C.
1 What was said?
“Lest there be any doubt, let me be perfectly clear: NDP government will fall in non-confidence if after all that has happened it continues to pursue LNG folly,”Weaver recently tweeted, adding “#lineinthesand.” This week, with Horgan on a trade mission to China, Korea and Japan, Weaver has pressed his case hard.
2 How could NDP ‘fall in non-confidence?’
The Greens and NDP have agreed to vote together on formal tests of support for the government, subject to the terms of CASA (Confidence and Supply Agreement) that underpins their coalition. If the Greens and Liberals voted against the NDP on something like the scheduled Feb. 13 throne speech, it could trigger another election.
3 What does CASA say about LNG?
Neither LNG nor greenhouse gases are mentioned specifically in CASA. But it does say the parties were agreed on“acting on climate change.”
Weaver says B.C. cannot meet emissions targets with even one LNG facility. “A push for #LNG means they are not serious. … We would have been deceived,” he said last week.
4 The greenhouse gas impact of LNG
Asked whether B.C. could develop LNG and still meet climate goals, Merran Smith of Clean Energy Canada said development “would need to be constrained and have environmental performance well beyond what exists today.” It would shift responsibility to cut pollution to other businesses and all British Columbians, she added.
5 What now?
Weaver and Horgan scheduled a phone call for Tuesday evening Pacific time and staff-level discussions are ongoing, said Jillian Oliver, a Green party spokeswoman.
Weaver planned to reiterate his stance during the call and hoped “to continue to have productive conversations on how we can honour our platform and CASA,” Oliver said.