Explaining my votes in the BC legislature today
Today in the BC Legislature the BC Liberals introduced two bills at First Reading. The first of these bills (Legislative Assembly Management Committee Amendment Act, 2017) granted official party status to the BC Green Party. The second of these bills (Election Amendment Act, 2017) was aimed at banning big money and other electoral finance changes at both the provincial and municipal level in British Columbia.
At first glance it might seem very odd that Adam Olsen, Sonia Furstenau and I voted against these bills at first reading (which means they won’t be printed and debated). But we did so as a matter of principle.
As I noted earlier, the legislature could and should have been recalled in early June (as the premier stated she would) in order for the BC Liberals to test the confidence in the house. Instead, through political calculation the BC Liberals chose the tactic of delay and distraction, all the while sowing the seeds of fear within the electorate.
After some discussion, we believed that it would be inappropriate for us to support the debating of government bills, even if it meant we wouldn’t be getting party status right away, until such time as confidence had been tested. We have already agreed to support a BC NDP minority government through a “supply and confidence agreement“.
Later today, Carole James will be introducing an amendment to the throne speech that states that the legislature does not have confidence in a BC Liberal government. She will be asking for unanimous consent for a vote on this amendment to occur right away. But it is likely that the BC Liberals will not agree and so the confidence vote will be delayed until Thursday afternoon.
While we wait, we’ll have to listen to BC Liberal after BC Liberal speak in support of the throne speech. Neither the NDP nor the BC Green MLAs (other than Carole James, John Horgan and I) will be speaking to it.
32 Comments
I am just curious, as a British Columbian, I can’t seem to find the proposed copies of the two government bills(bill 2, and bill 3) anywhere. I was browsing the legislature website and found reference to the votes in Hansard. In addition, the debates noted that it was spring on last minute and a reference to a recess just so the opposition could read it. Googling it just directed me here.
It would be nice if someone could upload these government bills online since I as a voter would like to get some timely info since the BC Liberals seems to like to write checks and I would want to know the amount even if it bounces.
Yours Truly,
A nameless BC Voter
P.S. Do only bills that get past first reading get uploaded, or is this just a time delay(though Hansard seems quite timely)?
The Bills did not pass first reading as such they won’t be published. The issue is that the government needs to test confidence first. They have refused to do so in a timely fashion and play games instead.
Andrew – I value your integrity and good judgment. With good policy and evidence based decision making, the results will naturally favour the citizens of BC. Thank you for your thoughtful and principled approach.
The BC Liberals are playing games. I fully support the BC Green’s position in defeating this BC Liberal government as soon as possible. Then and only then will the residents of BC finally have a government that truly represents the majority of BC voters.
Disappointing. The two things – a confidence motion and these bills – are completely separate. The bills could be reintroduced after the current government falls and amended as needed or rejected after debate. Not sure how this was a principle-based decision. Power trumps the very issues we have been fighting for?
The problem here is that if the bills were to pass then it would be an indication that the government has the confidence of the house so any subsequent confidence motion would almost certainly trigger an election. The content of these bills will be introduced once confidence has been tested.
Mr Weaver. One thing I have noticed is that you change your mind a lot. You say it would be weird if the Geeens didn’t support campaign finance reform and then change your mind and don’t vote for it. You say that in negotiations with NDP Horgan promised a liberal speaker would emerge. Horgan says it wasn’t written down and therefore was not the case and then you say the NDP will probably have to come up with one. When you were negotiating for your university union it may have been okay to flip flop; you had a small, congenial audience. But in politics the citizens of B.C listen attentively to everything you say and you come across as insincere and weak when you are constantly shifting your remarks. Speak wisely and thoughtfully and no need to express every thought that comes into your head.
Sounds like you are describing Clark flip-flopping all over?
Mr. Weaver is working towards a better BC.
I agree. Mr. Weaver is working towards a better B.C.
If the legislation is good legislation for BC, who cares if it is proposed by the Liberals, Greens or NDP? I would have expected that you were elected to do what is best for the province, and your platform included campaign finance reform. Voting against it now “as a matter of principle” because the Liberals proposed it when simply shows that your primary “principle” is partisan politics. You told us a minority government could work and then immediately sewered something good that came out of one. I don’t get it. I had a lot more respect for your party before yesterday.
You should have given maybe a bit more thought to remaining outside both Liberal and NDP embraces. That way, pressure could be exerted in either direction, depending on the bill under consideration. By shoelacing yourself to the NDP, you can indeed force the Liberals out on a confidence motion. But once the coalition has elected a speaker, we’re all right back where we started, deadlocked. If the only thing propping up an NDP government is a Speaker’s vote, then the Lieutenant Governor would, eventually, have no choice but to dissolve the house and call for another election. Since, at that point, for most voters there would be no functional difference between Greens and NDP – and not much difference any more between the three platforms – the likelihood is that the Greens would find it harder to retain votes than either the NDP or the Liberals, both with their hard core of supporters. This is especially likely to be the case if it turns out that some of the Green vote in May was a case of “vote parking” on the part of some who would’ve normally supported the NDP, but didn’t think much of Horgan (who seems like a really hard guy to warm up to, sweaty and desperate, at least in his public performances, and by many accounts, slippery and difficult to work with). I’m sorry but I can’t see the vote as principled in any sense beyond the principle of sticking to one’s signed agreements, i.e., the agreement brokered with Horgan. In the larger sense of principled, that is, voting according to one’s declared beliefs and interests, I can only see the vote as a step backwards.
Andrew, I support what you and your colleagues have done, just please remember to keep the NDP grounded. I would also urge, as both an environmentalist and proud citizen of this province, that you do whatever you can to get the books of B.C. Hydro opened for all to see. What has been done over the past decade to our former jewel of a crown corporation must be exposed, and the MSM be forced to cover it!
Your party has my vote again if this agreement fails to endure the test of time.
You’re a smart man, Mr. Weaver.
Don’t forget to tell Ms.Clark that supporting the 400 BC workers from CLAC (the other 1800 are from Alberta) by spending $4Billion more doesn’t make any sense either .
We could give hose 400 workers $10 Million each and still save money…
Your principled approach is appreciated and will continue to serve you well – as it should.
thank you i agree
no to the liberals in whatever color or clothing still
bad history
What we need is a leap of faith and a breath of fresh air. We needed change and this is our opportunity. Do not listen to those who believe in ghosts and fear change. Get involved and help navigate a new course. Carpe diem!
Wow, Liberal trolls stalking Andrew Weaver’s web site. Keep up the good work AW! The Libs are doing nothing but playing games, and so good to see you and the NDP are not going to play along.
It is imperative that we get rid of the Liberals. They have lied, lined their own pockets, waged war on the environment, bragged about slaughtering wolves and Grizzly bears, done absolutely nothing for the housing problem etc etc. Whatever it takes to get rid of them right now is required.
Honesty and Integrity – please let those principles guide the Green and NDP alliance – for all tax payers (citizens) of this province.
Time has proven that the BC Liberals(Social Credit/Reform) are NOT to be trusted to act in the best interest of ALL British Columbians. Good Luck, I hope you can make the next four years an example of progressive co-operatve politics for the rest of Canada.
I was unsure about whether the Greens would be principled or would vote to further their agenda. I am soooooo pleased to see that the Greens have taken a principled approach rather than the typical “what’s in it for me?” approach epitomized by the negative comments above. I think an NDP/Green coalition is exactly what BC needs after 16 years of horrific, greedy, corrupt, self-serving, corporate, unethical and unprincipled “government.” Good for you Andrew Weaver, Sonia Furstenau and Adam Olsen and the NDP team. Keep up the excellent work for the future of BC! And thanks for keeping up informed Mr. Weaver.
Good Job. It’s a shame people are falling for Clark’s game. The lack of political understanding from people on the situation is troubling.
While I understand your explanation, I respectfully disagree with you on this. I wish the Greens had chosen to be “the party that will work with others to pass desired legislation” rather than “the party that will support the NDP.” While I also don’t like the Liberals, I don’t entirely trust the NDP, and I wish the Greens had decided to remain independent from both. Unless these bills contained truly undesirable details in the fine print, voting against them looks so disingenuous.
Well, you chose to align with a party instead of standing as a party. That is sad. I am highly disappointed with the Green Party. If the gov’t gets voted down my Green vote will turn into a Liberal one. You are not thing of the citizens of BC when you made your bed wit the NDP. You could have done so much more for BC.
Thank you for refusing to play the corrupt Liberals’ games. They’re the ones creating instability in our province. Instead of gracefully stepping aside, Clark is doing all she can to desperately cling to power. She’s not fooling most of us!
Thank you Dr. Weaver for standing up against Christy Clark.
Her corrupt politics and incompetence to support the middle class has to stop now. 16 years of BC Rail illegal activities, real estate fraud, bribes, broken health care, broken education and no jobs for educated professionals has to stop.
So while you play government we have a very unstable BC. What does that do for the economy, it stalls it. I make my living selling product but you don’t mind a screwed up economy you just want to play. It is your way or you will take the ball home and won’t play. Grow up, you’re screwing with MA y lives in this province you want to govern. Sham on you.
Too bad you made the deal with the NDP. You could have had everything you wanted from the liberals. I don’t like your chances in the next election, you have lost a lot of votes by joining the NDP. I voted Green in the last two elections as I thought you were independent of both main parties. I won’t make that mistake again
Thank you so much for helping defeat the profoundly corrupt Liberal government. I am so delighted we have 3 Green MLAS now and very happy that you are working with the NDP to create healthy change in BC. Soon the Greens will have official party status and we will see a more representative and forward-thinking government :)
I think this hurts you long term. Greens should make hay while the sun is shining.
If you had voted for both these bills, BC moved forward. You told me minority governments can work. Now I’m not so sure.
The Liberals are playing the long game here. Don’t get hung up on their games in the short term.
They bait the NDP and everytime the NDP falls for it. The Greens are smarter, the Greens rise above it. Today, they weren’t and didn’t.
This does NOT hurts Greens. It would be ludicrous to support the corrupt (to the bone) bc liberals at this stage.
Its time for them to go and this is just their attempt at holding on to power and setting themselves up for the next elxn.
Thank you for this principled stand. Christy Clark needs to go.