NDP-Greens Announce Deal, Clark To Stay On For Now

The BC NDP and Green parties have released details of their deal that will see the parties work together to form a minority government.

NDP leader John Horgan says the parties plan to ban union and corporate political donations, hold a referendum in 2018 on electoral reform, and to stop the federally-approved Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project.

“A government that will focus on the needs and interests of people, and making sure the accord we have signed today can be carried through in the days, weeks and months ahead,” Horgan told a news conference.

“We are clear with this signing of this accord that the BC Greens will work with the BC NDP to put people first in the upcoming session,” said Green leader Andrew Weaver.

Meantime, Premier Christy Clark says she will recall the legislature in June and test her LIberal minority government’s confidence

“Should the government fail the test of confidence in the house as seems likely, I would be given the job as leader of the opposition. And I’m more than ready and willing to take that job on,” Clark told a news conference.

Clark says if there is a transfer of power, she would like it to happen as quickly as possible.

“It shouldn’t be done behind closed doors. It should happen in public as constitutional convention tells us it should,” adds Clark.

Vernon Monashee Liberal MLA Eric Foster was surprised to hear the NDP Green deal would stop the Kinder Morgan expansion project.

“I noticed a comment from the Prime Minister this morning that they plan to push forward with Kinder Morgan because it’s for the benefit of the country, so that should be an interesting conversation,” says Foster.

Foster says the campaign donation changes was something “everyone was  looking at doing.”