VANCOUVER—Political observers across the country are paying special attention to the unique situation unfolding in British Columbia. The narrow election results have brought about an unexpected outcome that hasn’t happened here in six decades.
And although politicians are heading back to the B.C. legislature on June 22, experts warn that doesn’t mean the drama determining who will govern the province will be over.
Premier Christy Clark and her newly appointed 22-member cabinet were sworn in June 12, but the Liberals’ rule is expected to be short-lived. Clark is widely expected to lose a confidence vote in the house next week after the New Democrats and Greens came together to allow the NDP to form a minority government.
The first order of business for the parties is to pick a Speaker from their ranks. With the Liberals taking 43 seats in the house and a total of 44 NDP-Green MLAs sitting across from them, this won’t be an easy task.
Given the tight election result, the parties are reluctant to have one of their members take on the role of Speaker. All 43 Liberal MLAs have indicated they will not volunteer for the position. If the speaker comes from the NDP-Green alliance, the house gets deadlocked at 43 seats apiece with the Liberals.
“It’s going to be a matter of which party blinks first,” said Pauline Beange, an expert in Canadian politics and elections with the University of Toronto.
