Vancouver Sun

PARTY LEADERS MAKE CASE

Party leaders give copy of accord to Government House

- ROB SHAW Rshaw@postmedia.com

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 Green-NDP alliance she will make sure it’s done publicly on the floor of the legislatur­e and not through backroom deals.

 ?? CHAD HIPOLITO/THE CANADIAN PRESS ?? B.C. Green party Leader Andrew Weaver, left, and NDP Leader John Horgan arrive at Government House Wednesday to drop off a document to Director of the House Jeremy Brownridge, centre. Signed by 44 MLAs, it shows there’s a deal between the two parties.
CHAD HIPOLITO/THE CANADIAN PRESS B.C. Green party Leader Andrew Weaver, left, and NDP Leader John Horgan arrive at Government House Wednesday to drop off a document to Director of the House Jeremy Brownridge, centre. Signed by 44 MLAs, it shows there’s a deal between the two parties.

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