John Horgan and Andrew Weaver arrived at Government House Wednesday, ready to deliver the power-sharing agreement signed by all 44 Green Party and NDP MLAs.
They gave it to a representative for Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon. The document gives her the information that could result in her asking the NDP to form the next government.
The lieutenant-governor’s decision is expected to be revealed over the next few weeks.
If the NDP form government, one of the commitments in the accord is a referendum on proportional representation.
Called “first-past-the-post”, whoever has the most votes in each riding, wins.
In proportional systems, if a party gets 30 per cent of the seats in parliament, it’s because they got close to 30 per cent of the vote.
Constitutional Expert Ron Cheffins says it represents a dramatic change for British Columbia.
“Let’s say Party ‘A’ gets twenty percent of the vote,” Cheffins said.
“The first 20 names on the list are in parliament. Party ‘B’ gets ten per cent of the vote. The first ten names on the list are in the parliament.”
While on the campaign trail, both Horgan and Weaver promised proportional representation.
Fair Vote Canada’s Terry Dance Bennick says it’s time for electoral reform change in B.C.
“I think the accord between the Greens and the NDP, there’s a lot riding on this,” Dance Bennick said.
Dance Bennick says that the clock is ticking for both party leaders to deliver on their promises, “They have to deliver on this. They really do. This is our third time up to bat in B.C. And I think we have an opportunity to lead the country. If we can do it, the rest of the country may follow suit.”
“They have to deliver on this,” Dance Bennick said.
“They really do. This is our third time up to bat in B.C. And I think we have an opportunity to lead the country. If we can do it, the rest of the country may follow suit.”
Despite a campaign promise to introduce electoral reform, Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party defeated the motion Wednesday.
Back in Victoria, Horgan and Weaver have 18 months to drive home a campaign promise on electoral reform.
Mary Griffin
