B.C. Premier Christy Clark said Wednesday that she will let Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon decide whether to call another election if the Liberal government goes down to defeat as expected Thursday.
But Clark told reporters that, if asked, she will advise Guichon that the legislature isn’t working under her leadership and that there’s no evidence it will work under an NDP government backed by the B.C. Green Party.
Clark denied that providing that opinion amounts to the same thing as advising Guichon to call an election.
“It will be her decision about whether or not she makes that call,” Clark said. “But, if she asks me a question about what I think, I’m not gong to lie about what I saw going on in this place this week.”
NDP house leader Mike Farnworth dismissed Clark’s comments as a futile attempt by Clark to cling to power.
“I think the premier’s flailing around and is desperate for an election that nobody wants, and trying to find anybody else to call an election and take responsibility other than her,” he said.
Clark said that, if asked, she will tell Guichon that she’s seen no proof the alliance of 41 NDP MLAs and three Greens can govern effectively against 43 Liberals. The NDP and Greens signed an accord following the May election to defeat Clark and work together on a range of issues.
The Liberals, however, have suggested that if the government falls, Speaker Steve Thomson will resign and the NDP-Green alliance will have to find a replacement from within its ranks. That will leave the government and Opposition sides of the house with 43 votes apiece and require the Speaker to break ties — a situation the Liberals claim is unworkable.
“I know they have the numbers to topple the government and to take power,” Clark said. “But I haven’t seen any evidence that they have the numbers that they need to actually govern.”
But Farnworth said the NDP-Green alliance already proved its effectiveness this week by defeating two Liberal government bills.
“We’ve put forward a plan of how we intend to work together, how we intend to make the legislature work and we’re looking forward to doing it,” he said. “And I think we demonstrated this week our ability to do just that.
“We have an agreement that 44 members have signed and last time I checked, 44 votes beats 43 votes.”
NDP Leader John Horgan received a standing ovation from NDP and Green MLAs Wednesday as he moved a motion of non-confidence in the government’s throne speech, triggering a vote set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
If the Liberals lose that vote, Clark will head to Government House in Victoria to meet with Guichon. The lieutenant-governor will then have the option of calling an election or asking Horgan to form a government and seek the confidence of the house.
Horgan noted that he and B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver have provided Guichon with a copy of their plan to work together.
“It was impressive to see on my side of the house — currently on the Opposition side — 44 members ready to go, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on issues that we campaigned on,” he told reporters outside the chamber.
“I would hope that after seven weeks, after it being abundantly clear to all British Columbians that change is what people voted for, that they should be able to get that change.”
Horgan said he can’t predict what Guichon will do, but hopes she will recognize that the NDP and Greens have the majority of support in the house and should be given the opportunity to govern.
“I’ve discharged my responsibility,” he said. “We’ve moved a motion. We will win the vote and then it’s in the hands of the lieutenant-governor. I’m hopeful that she’ll do the right thing.”
On Wednesday night, Horgan spoke at a rally at the Hotel Grand Pacific attended by about 300 cheering supporters. “Let’s work together and get rid of this government because we can’t afford four more years of Christy Clark,” Horgan told the crowd.
Horgan took questions from the audience that touched on affordable housing, support for veterans, students and people on social assistance. He poked fun at the Liberals for presenting “the NDP’s platform” in its throne speech.
Horgan got emotional when asked by the uncle of Baby Mac, the toddler who died in an unlicensed daycare, what he would do to better monitor daycares. “The good news is the B.C. Liberals now support childcare,” Horgan said, referring to the Liberals’ sudden pledge to create more child care spaces. “They turned over a couple rocks and found a billion dollars.”
— With Katie DeRosa
