It happened. As promised, the GreeNDP voted as a block to oust the B.C. Liberals from power, despite some last-minute pleading from former Premier Christy Clark.
John Horgan has been called on to form a government by the Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon. He will lead some form of coalition for at least the foreseeable future. I realize both the Green Party and the NDP do not want to call it a "coalition" government but in essence it is.
He has promised to form a cabinet fairly quickly, which will be interesting.
Clearly discussions of who should be appointed where will have gone on during the last seven weeks. Once Andrew Weaver and then Opposition Leader Horgan had come to an agreement to work together, it was only a matter of time for the B.C. Liberals. The NDP team would have started laying the groundwork.
The question of what to do with the Green Party members will be telling. If the Green Party is merely "supporting" the NDP, then we won't see any members from the Green Party in cabinet - at least not officially. It is also unlikely one of the Green Party MLAs would be called on to become the speaker.
But if the parties are going to become more closely aligned - if we are to see the "GreeNDP" emerge over the coming year - then we might see Weaver take on one of the more significant cabinet positions. Maybe minister of advanced education as he certainly has an understanding of universities.
More likely though would be an appointment of Weaver as the minister of the environment with a large mandate to address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. It would be a role which would fit like the proverbial glove. It would play directly into his strengths and allow his party to shine where they need to shine.
Of course, one of the things Premier Horgan doesn't want to do is to allow Weaver to shine too bright.
This election has given notice of a change in the political structure within B.C. For the better part of the last 50 years, we have had two party provincial politics. Sure, sometimes the right was fractured or the left was trying to hold it together, but essentially we have had half the province vote one way or the other.
Indeed, as I have pointed out previously, the NDP typically get about 39-40 per cent of the vote while the B.C. Liberals and their predecessors get 43-44 per cent. The loss of three per cent by the B.C. Liberals in this election resulted in this dead heat.
But under Weaver, the Green Party is now a viable third party. With 16.84 per cent of the popular vote and a base of 332,387 voters, the Green Party has the potential to become a significant political force over the next few years, threatening the uneasy relationship between the B.C. Liberals and the NDP.
Furthermore, if we do get a referendum on electoral reform and we end up moving to some form of proportional representation, the Green Party will hold the balance of power for the foreseeable future. After all, since 1986 and with the exception of 2001, neither side has won a clear majority of the popular vote. Proportional representation will mean a succession of minority governments.
And just like our present Legislature, it will be the Green Party who will get to decide the premier of the province. How Premier Horgan handles the relationship with Weaver will have a major impact on just how long the NDP maintains power in this province.
This past weekend was Canada's 150 birthday. In honour of the event, I thought I would try to offer up some thoughts on the things which define us.
You know you are a Canadian if you:
Have two pasttimes - hockey and beer
Think 5 C is "shorts weather"
Know all the words to the American national anthem
Like making fun of Americans, particular the ones who think we say "aboot" and "eh"
Finish sentences by saying "eh"
Decided not to snowplow the driveway because it will melt in the spring
Understand Don Cherry
Can remember Casey, Finnigan, and Mr. Dressup
Think snowshoes are an appropriate anniversary gift
Can tell the difference between a moose, an elk, and a caribou
Like to make fun of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Enjoy universal healthcare (Take that, Trump!)
And most of all, you know you are a Canadian if you love this country, warts and all!
