NDP Leader John Horgan will be the next premier of British Columbia and have the opportunity to test the confidence of the house with a planned NDP-Green alliance. Horgan made the announcement to reporters at Government House at about the same time as lieutenant-governor Judith Guichon issued a statement: “I have met with Premier Clark and will accept her resignation. I have asked Mr. Horgan to form a government, he having assured me that he can form a government which will have the confidence of the Legislative Assembly” Post-election deals to defeat the party with the largest number of seats in the Legislature are typically frowned on in Canada. The federal Liberals and NDP decided not to try it against the last Conservative minority. The argument that neither Liberal nor NDP voters had cast a ballot for a backroom deal carried the day. Guichon had the alternative of calling another election. Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals gained 43 seats in the May 9 election against a combined NDP-Green opposition of 44. Tight.
