My sincere thanks to everyone who has been so supportive these past few weeks as my family struggles with some very serious health issues.

The next legislative session resumes tomorrow and I look forward to representing the wonderful constituents of OBGH in the coming months as an independent MLA. Mike Smyth’s article provides an excellent and accurate analysis of my decision to leave the BC Green Party and sit as an independent. Further insight as to why I believe that it is important for the BC Green Party to develop a new vision and voice independent from mine is provided in Keith Baldrey’s column published today.

Moving forward, I will be prioritizing several key issues:

1) First and foremost, I will prioritize constituent issues. In this regard, I have incredible support from Judy Fainstein, Noah Conrad and Perry Fainstein;

2) Second, I will continue to work with the Ministers of Environment (George Heyman) and Energy (Bruce Ralston) to advance the economic agenda embodied in CleanBC;

3) I am also very much looking forward to working with Michelle Mungall, MLA on the innovation file. We had a very productive initial conversation and I can tell she is the perfect Minister for this portfolio.

Finally, the Premier and I exchanged letters that were made publicly available today on the Confidence and Supply Agreement website. In these letters we reaffirm our commitment to working together and building on the successes of the last two and half years.

Below I reproduce a copy of the letter I sent to the Premier. His response is available here.

Thank you to all the residents of Oak Bay Gordon Head for giving me the opportunity to represent you.

Text of My Letter

27 January 2020
Honourable John Horgan
Premier and President of the Executive Council
West Annex Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Premier Horgan,

As you know, the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) is an agreement signed by all members of the BC Green Caucus and the Government Caucus.

As I am no longer a member of the Green Caucus, I am writing to you to clarify my intentions regarding my support of this Government and propose a path forward.

I intend to continue to support Government on all matters of confidence and to support the spirit of the CASA. Going forward, my relationship with Government will continue to be based on the founding principles of the CASA, “good faith and no surprises.”

As an independent MLA I do not intend to engage on all matters before Government, however I would like to retain the option to meet with Government on a limited number of priority policy areas of key importance to me. I propose that my legislative office will work with CASA Secretariat staff to facilitate such meetings and coordinate follow-up as necessary. I and my legislative staff will happily sign new undertakings of confidentiality with Government to enable continuation of these consultation meetings.

If any serious concerns or issues arise, I propose that I raise them directly with political staff in your office, as I will no longer be party to the CASA Consultation Committee process.

As for my participation in Question Period and the House, I will make any requests to the Government House Leader, with the understanding that allocation of speaking time to independent members is an issue that is negotiated between the House Leaders of all parties.

While the Agreement for Coordination of External Communication between the BC Green Caucus and the BC New Democrat Government will no longer apply to me, I will endeavour to provide the Government with advance notice of any public communications from my office, and I propose that the Government reciprocate on subjects that I have identified as having particular interest to me. I propose that my office continue to work with the CASA Secretariat staff in this regard.

The new Leader of the BC Green Caucus will properly take my place in regular meetings with you, but as partners who have accomplished so much together in the past two and half years, I hope and expect the two of us will still be able to sit down together to advance our common goals, and to find solutions if circumstances require it.

Sincerely,
Andrew Weaver, MLA
Oak Bay-Gordon Head