GREENS HOLD KEY TO B.C.

Just after the election, we suggested Green party Leader Andrew Weaver resist the temptation to accept a cabinet post from Liberal Leader Christy Clark, should one be offered, and instead use his balance of power on an issue-by-issue basis, helping to mould legislation so it would meet his criteria. To align his three seats with either the Liberals or the New Democrats in a coalition, we thought, would betray the base and turn the Green party into a subset of one of the major parties.

Of course, that approach leads to fragile governments liable to fall in the blink of an eye — the last minority government in B.C. 65 years ago survived less than a year — and Weaver has decided to make stability his priority. He says voters have no appetite for another election, and he’s probably right. Weaver is expected to announce next week which party he thinks best represents the interests of the Greens and of all British Columbians.

His three deal-breakers — official party status for the Greens, getting big money out of politics, and electoral reform — could be accommodated by either the Liberals or the NDP since both made at least lukewarm commitments during the campaign to address the latter two in some fashion.

Polls indicate nearly three-quarters of British Columbians oppose a Green alliance with the Liberal party, while a majority (57 per cent) would approve a coalition with the NDP.

Meanwhile, 58 per cent said they would prefer the Green party to work with any governing party on an issue-by-issue basis rather than forming a formal coalition, validating our earlier editorial.

Whether Weaver chooses the NDP or the Liberals, he may have to rein in his legislative ambitions: a doubling of the carbon tax over four years is unlikely, work on the Massey tunnel replacement bridge will not be suspended, Site C, the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion and LNG development will likely proceed, and a ministry of mental health is probably a nonstarter (we already have a Ministry of Health responsible for mental health).

That said, if Weaver can move the legislature to take bold action on the opioid crisis by encouraging the governing party to adopt the proven methods that have reduced overdose deaths in Europe, he will have made a significant contribution.

If our fractious legislature further focuses on at-risk youth, poverty, transit and housing, it just might beat the survival odds of minority governments.