A Breakdown of the BC Green & BC NDP Confidence and Supply Agreement

An agreement has been reached between the BC Greens and the BC NDP that will bring about much needed change in British Columbia.  The compromises made in this agreement ensure that, despite having only 3 of 87 seats, many BC Green ideas will be become policy.  Without a deal, few of the Greens’ conditions would have been met, and a vote of non-confidence would have ensured that British Columbians would be back at the polls in no time.  To avoid this, and to see Green policy implemented, a deal had to be made with either the NDP or the Liberals, and the obvious choice was the party that was most willing to compromise. Not having formed an official coalition, BC Green and BC NDP MLA’s reserve the ability to vote as they wish on anything not related to supply and confidence, thereby maintaining their unique voice in the Legislature.

Let’s take a look at the firm promises made in the 2017 Confidence and Supply Agreement between the BC Green Party Caucus and the BC NDP Caucus.

Assuming the Lieutenant Governor invites John Horgan to form a new government, this agreement will be binding until the next election. John Horgan will not request a dissolution of the Legislature during that time, except following the defeat of a motion of confidence. The BC Green Party will not vote non-confidence during this time, as long as the BC NDP act in good faith. The BC NDP will consult the BC Green Party caucus on provincial budgets, legislative programme, legislation to be introduced, major policy issues, budget parameters and event/policy changes that impact the province or budget. The BC NDP will provide the BC Green Party with access to key documents and officials.

The BC NDP recognize that the government must be able to negotiate with the BC Green Party MLA’s as a single, recognized caucus. As such, the BC Green Party will be granted official party status.

The Legislature will be recalled within one month of the swearing in of a BC NDP government, which will happen in short order, according to Christy Clark. During this first sitting, the following legislation will be introduced, establishing that:

• A referendum on proportional representation will occur in conjunction with the next municipal election (fall, 2018). The form of proportional representation selected will be implemented before the next provincial election.
• Electoral finance reform will be implemented, which will include a ban on corporate and union donations, limits on individual contributions, and restricting loans to banks and recognized financial institutions.
• Lobbying reform will be implemented, which will include a multi-year prohibition on lobbying for former senior public office holders, and increased penalties for Lobbyist Registration Act violations.
• The fixed election date will be moved from May to a date in the fall of 2021, and every 4 years after that

Other promises:

• BC Green and BC NDP caucuses will review the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to determine how to bring the principles of the declaration into action in BC, in line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls-to-action, and the Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decision
• Required spring and fall sittings of the Legislature every year
• Carbon tax will be increased by $5/tonne/year, beginning April 1st, 2018.Rebate cheques will be issued to British Columbians.
• Immediately refer Site C project to the BCUC
• Immediately employ every tool available to stop the expansion of Kinder Morgan
• Immediately establish an at-arm’s-length Fair Wages Commission with the mandate of bringing BC’s minimum wage to at least $15/hour and overseeing regular rate reviews
• Immediately begin to work with the Mayors’ Council and the Liberal Party of Canada to improve transit and transportation infrastructure
• Invest in co-op, apprenticeship and work experience programs for high-school and undergraduate students over 4 years
• Establish and Emerging Economy Task Force to address the changes in business over the next 10-25 years. The mandate and funding will be established by representatives of the BC NDP government and BC Green caucus
• Establish an Innovation Commission to act as an advocate and ambassador for the technology sector, supporting innovation and business development
• Invest in new schools, hospitals and other infrastructure with a focus on reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency
• Include a proposal to implement a drug program, in the first provincial budget, to ensure drug costs are not a barrier to health management
• Improve care for seniors by investing in home care, addressing staffing levels, and implementing clear, measurable and enforceable standards
• Dedicate a minister responsible for developing a mental health and addiction strategy, and a youth mental health strategy. This ministry will have the funds necessary to provide frontline services and develop an immediate response to the fentynal crisis
• Invest in child protection by hiring additional social workers and staff, and incentivizing social worker to provide care in underserved regions
• Design and implement a basic income pilot to test the feasibility of a province-wide program, to be funded in the first provincial budget
• Eliminate MSP premiums
• Increase the supply of affordable housing and deal with speculation and fraud

– NICOLA SPURLING –