Green Party MLAs sworn in during historic ceremony at BC Legislature

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The B.C. Green Caucus was sworn in Wednesday. Mary Griffin reports. 

Six weeks after the provincial election, Premier Christy Clark is recalling the legislature.

After electing a speaker, one of the first orders of business will be a confidence vote, which the Liberals are expected to lose.

READ MORE: B.C. Government House Leader announces legislature will be recalled June 22

That will pave the way for a NDP minority government, supported by BC’s three Green Party MLA’s. were sworn in today.

Those three MLAs were sworn in Wednesday. 

Party leader Andrew Weaver was reflective as he got to the legislature.

“What’s neat about today is I’m flashing back to 2013,” Weaver said.

“And when you stand in the chamber, I remember that time really well.  It’s like, wow! The history.  Suddenly you are part of it.”

The members of the B.C. Green Caucus take a selfie on June 7.

Adam Olsen said the significance of the day was starting to sink in. “This is the first time that a person of Saanich ancestry sits in the seat representing Saanich.  Those are the thoughts that are going through my head right now.”

“This is the first time that a person of Saanich ancestry sits in the seat representing Saanich,” Olsen said. Those are the thoughts that are going through my head right now.”

“Those are the thoughts that are going through my head right now.”

And Sonia Furstenau said, “it’s really exciting and it’s great that so many of my supporters and campaign workers are down for it.”

The Liberals recalled the legislature back for June 2, which means the agreement signed between the Greens and the NDP will be tested.

“We have an agreement for four years,” Weaver said. “And there is no reason why this legislature can’t function as its supposed to in a collaborative manner to get good policy through in a timely manner.”

“And there is no reason why this legislature can’t function as its supposed to in a collaborative manner to get good policy through in a timely manner.”

But NDP leader John Horgan is not sounding collaborative.

In a statement, he wrote, “by the time Christy Clark finally gets to work on June 22, it will be more than six weeks since British Columbians voted overwhelmingly to replace her.  I’m surprised it’s taken Christy Clark this long, but I’m hopeful she will agree to test the confidence of the house immediately.”

Mary GriffinMary Griffin

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