Minority Liberal government holds

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Whether the Liberals or NDP will form British Columbia’s next government remains in doubt after all the absentee ballots were counted today.

The final count confirmed the province has a minority government.

But with the balance of power firmly in his grasp, Green Leader Andrew Weaver is indicating he wants to end the confusion that has gripped the province since the May 9th election.

He wants to try and reach a deal with either the Liberals or the NDP on a minority government by next Wednesday, but he says it’s not a deal breaker to get something done by then. “Negotiations are ongoing and that may happen, it may not happen.  It’s not a deal-breaker if we are so close, that we still need some more time, there’s nothing magical about that.”

After almost 180,000 absentee ballots were counted, the Liberal party maintains its 43 seats to the New Democrats 41.

The Greens have three seats.

Christy Clark says she has a responsibility to form a minority government, issuing a statement claiming the results reinforce that British Columbians want them to work across party lines to get things done.

But NDP Leader John Horgan says he’s optimistic his party can put together a framework to govern with the Greens. “I’m hopeful that we can get going on this as quickly as possible. The election is over today. The challenge now is to demonstrate to the public that I can make that happen.”

Horgan says 60 per cent of BC voters want a change in government.

“We are in uncertain times. The popular vote between the two major parties was absolutely split down the middle and this is an opportunity to build on a minority situation to demonstrate that people can have a government that works for them.”

BC Green Party statement on final vote count:

“The BC Green caucus is committed to ensuring that British Columbians will have a stable minority government’s said Weaver.

“With this historic result, British Columbia can finally put the ineffective two-party system behind us. It has led to a divisive legislature that primarily benefits special interests. This is an incredible opportunity for BC’s political leaders to put partisan differences aside and work for the common good. I look forward to working with both other parties so that we can finally get big money out of politics, move towards electoral reform and implement good public policy on a wide range of issues that puts people first.”

 

Premier Christy Clark issues statement on final count:

“I want to congratulate all candidates, from all parties, who put their names forward to run. It’s not easy, and they deserve our gratitude for working to make our province even better.

“With 43 BC Liberal candidates elected as MLAs, and a plurality in the legislature, we have a responsibility to move forward and form a government.

“The final result reinforces that British Columbians want us to work together, across party lines, to get things done for them.

“Our priority is to protect our strong economy and to manage BC’s finances responsibly, while listening closely to British Columbians on how we address important social and environmental priorities and how we can make BC politics more responsive, transparent, and accountable.

“The work is just beginning. My team and I look forward to delivering positive results for British Columbians.”

All eyes had been on the Courtenay-Comox riding. As of noon today, NDP candidate Ronna-Rae Leonard was leading Liberal Jim Benninger.

“Since 1995 when the election act came into force, there’s been four judicial recounts, and none of them have gone to an appeal,” he explains.

The Liberals had 43 seats, the New Democrats hold 41 and the Green party has three.

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