Like NDP leader John Horgan, Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons is impatient to get back to the Legislature to try to clear the way for the NDP to form a government with Green Party support.
Earlier this week, Premier Christy Clark unveiled what she admits is a “stand pat” cabinet that’s likely to be in a caretaker role as her minority government prepares a speech from the throne that NDP and Green MLAs are expected to vote down.
“The provincial election made two things clear: British Columbians want a government that will work across party lines, and one that will bridge the divide between urban and rural British Columbia,” said Clark, who went on to tell reporters the throne speech will highlight “investing in supporting an urban agenda that’s going to make our cities the most livable in the world. You’ll see that in the Throne Speech, that’s the government’s chance to set out for British Columbians, and every member of the house, where we want to take the province. That will be the test of confidence.”
The Liberals lost six seats across Metro Vancouver in the May 9 vote.
Simons told Coast Reporter he doesn’t think much of that approach.
“Obviously, the government trying to position themselves to devoting what will probably be a month to an agenda they’ve ignored for the last 12 years isn’t going to really make too many people happy,” Simons said. “I think a government should always look at the needs of the entire province and not pick favourites.”
Simons also said Clark needs to explain why MLAs weren’t back in the Legislature this week.
During a Wednesday press conference with Green leader Andrew Weaver, Horgan accused Clark of dragging out the process and delaying a confidence vote as long as possible to try to “sow discontent” between the NDP and Greens.
