Questions have come up after the recent deal between the BC NDP and Green Caucuses.
The deal, which sees the Greens supporting the BC NDP in a minority government, could lead to an end to the BC Liberals 16 years in power.
“I just went out to the store and I keep getting people asking me what’s going to happen, Claire!” said BC NDP’s Claire Trevena, the MLA-elect for the North Island, in an interview over the phone.
“The very basic way it is going to affect people is it will allow the NDP, with the support of the Greens, to form government. It means we will put people at the centre of decision making.”
But uncertainty looms until legislature is resumed on June 22 and the parties can move forward with a confidence motion.
“Legislature resumes in a week, at that point we will have the speech from the throne,” said Trevena. “The following week we will be coming back, and then we will be tabling a confidence motion. You can never prejudge any of this, but that is how we are anticipating it will work.”
If the confidence motion is successful, British Columbia may see an administration change, where Premier Christy Clarke moves into the official opposition and BC NDP leader John Horgan becomes Premier.
“I think this agreement has been entered in with great anticipation,” said Trevena. “The Greens will support us to be able to keep this government. This is a very exciting time, because it will be a test to show us that political parties can do the work together in the interest of the people.”
She added B.C. “has had a government in power for so long that has ignored the needs of the people in the North. It’s very exciting because of the ability to work with other parties to affect change to make sure the things we need in the North Island are delivered.”
Trevena continued, stating “Whether it is education, or improvement in ferry systems — whatever it is we are looking at, it is going to benefit people in the north island. We are hoping that Christy Clark does listen to people — we want to move on, to be able to do the people’s business and not play political games.”
- Hanna Petersen article