BC’s Eby Mulls Speaker Selection in Light of Razor-Thin Majority

British Columbia Premier David Eby during a news conference in Kamloops, B.C., on Sept. 11, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The narrow victory for the New Democratic Party (NDP) over the Conservatives in B.C. (47 seats to 44 seats respectively) has Premier David Eby hinting that the role of speaker for the legislature could be filled by one of the opposition parties.

Eby made the comments to reporters during an Oct. 29 news conference in Victoria, where he said he would be willing to work with any MLA who shares the same values as the NDP. He also said he would consider a legislative speaker from another party.