Promises outlined in throne speech

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The premier insists voters want all three parties to work together.

Christy Clark has put forward a throne speech which many pundits are saying appears to be inspired by the platforms of her political rivals, but Clark says it just shows her party is listening.

The throne speech outlines what could be the final goals of the BC Liberal government includes a promise to hold a referendum on electoral reform.

It includes a number of planks from the NDP and Green party platforms in last month’s provincial election, as Clark’s Liberals face a confidence vote in the coming days that could see their defeat after 16 years in office.

The speech says the Liberals would eliminate tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges in Metro Vancouver, cut the provincial sales tax to offset an annual increase of $5 a tonne in the carbon tax and establish a royal commission on education.

It says a higher than forecast budget surplus allows the government to pursue innovative options, although the size of the surplus won’t be released until next month.

The speech also includes recently announced government plans to raise monthly welfare rates by $100, spend $1 billion on early childhood education, and ban union and corporate donations to political parties.

Premier Christy Clark says voters want the parties to work together. 

“All of it will be accommodated within the budget. And all of it can be accommodated within the budget, if we get a chance to get to debating the budget, which I hope we do.”

The Liberal government isn’t expected to last long. The Liberals have 43 seats in the Legislature, one short of a majority, while the New Democrats have 41 and the Greens three. The NDP and Greens have signed an agreement and are expected to defeat the Liberals in a confidence vote next week.

NDP Leader John Horgan says the confidence vote could come as early as Monday.

“I’m hopeful that all members will recognize that the sooner we put away the make-believe throne speech and come forward with a real throne speech, the sooner we can get working on the issues that matter to people,” he says.

But political scientist David Moscrop says the throne speech needs to be debated first.

“That’ll be a lot of theatre, effectively a lot of electioneering. So you know, we get the throne speech and we get the electioneering and then we get to do this all over again. God help us all.”

Earlier today, Liberal MLA Steve Thomson was acclaimed Speaker after formally resigning his post as forests minister. Should the Liberal government fall in a non-confidence vote, he’s expected to resign.

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