So we have a final result in the provincial election.
Nothing has changed from election night but everything has changed in B.C. politics. A minority government is a whole new kettle of fish or can of worms or barrel of monkeys or any other absurd description.
Minority governments are not inherently bad. Indeed, for two elections in a row, Stephen Harper ruled over a minority government, while other prime ministers including Paul Martin, Joe Clark, Pierre Trudeau, Lester B. Pearson, John Diefenbaker and Arthur Meighen presided over minorities.
A minority government can be made to work - at least for a period of time - provided the parties are willing to work "together."
I put together in quotes because this does not mean a "coalition" government.
Indeed, if I was offering Andrew Weaver advice, I would strongly recommend against a coalition.
He has nothing to gain and a lot to lose. No matter how things play out, he will be held out as the person and the party which forces us back to the polls.
Better to do that on his own principles than by compromising a coalition.
After all, there is no actual requirement for the government to be a coalition. Weaver and his fellow Green Party MLAs could just as easily vote on an issue-by-issue basis.
The government could even have legislation defeated. It is only in matters of confidence that the tire would hit the proverbial road and put us back on the election trail. With the right matter of confidence, Weaver can come out ahead of the game.
One of those issues shouldn't be electoral reform. It sounds like a great plank in a platform.
It sounds like something the millennial generation wants. It sounds like something which will lead to better voter turnout and participation.
But it will also sound self-serving. With 17 per cent of the popular vote, it is in the Green Party's interest to see electoral reform and a proportional house. In this election, it would have resulted in a 36-36 tie for the B.C. Liberals and the NDP, with the Green Party holding 15 seats.
Having 15 seats sounds appealing and would give the Green Party legitimacy, let alone party status in the legislature.
It would, however, be the Green Party's undoing. Both the B.C. Liberals and the NDP could target the Green Party as opportunists - taking advantage of holding the balance of power in the present legislative session to gain more seats.
It would also expose the Green Party's platform to much more scrutiny.
Perhaps of more concern with the present legislature is the distribution of seats in the province. It is not just the numbers (B.C. Liberals 43, NDP 41) nor who will ultimately be asked by the lieutenant-governor to form government (although this may be all settled by the time you are reading this).
It is the distribution of seats within the province.
Essentially, there are two B.C.s.
Looking at an Election B.C. colour coded display of the ridings, the north and interior are B.C. Liberal red. A few seats on the coast are orange but the bulk of the province outside of the Lower Mainland belongs to the B.C. Liberals.
Look at the NDP on the same map and they dominate Vancouver and parts of the island. It is "metropolitan B.C." versus "rural B.C." or "service-based economy B.C." versus "resource-rich B.C."
How does either party govern such a divided province?
If the NDP form government, Prince George, Kamloops, and Kelowna will not have a seat at the cabinet table.
If the B.C. Liberals form government, what do they do about the paucity of MLAs in Vancouver and on the island?
One of the principles which helps the government operate effectively is to ensure the cabinet has representation from throughout the province. If not, we end up with mega-projects in Vancouver and paying for toll-free bridges when it is jobs and the softwood lumber agreement about which we are more concerned.
Imagine trying to convince a government of the need for physiotherapy and occupational therapy training in Prince George if both seats are held by the opposition.
Imagine trying to convince the government of the need for doing a better job with B.C. Ferries and recognizing their role in the provincial highway system if the island is dominated by the opposition.
One thing is for sure - politics in British Columbia are going to be very interesting for the next year or so as each party tries to position itself in such a way as to gain a majority in the next provincial election, which will likely take place next spring.
Of course, if Weaver sticks to his guns and shoots for proportional representation, this will also be the new normal.
