B.C. Greens to support NDP on confidence votes, work together on shared priorities

The mace of the B.C. legislature is seen in an image from the government's website.

The B.C. New Democratic and Green parties have reached an "agreement in principle" on a "co-operation and responsible government accord" that will see the smaller party support the government on confidence matters.

The parties will also work together to achieve specific legislative goals in the coming session.

In a statement Friday announcing the agreement, NDP Premier David Eby said the shared priorities are "strengthening health care, building affordable housing, creating livable communities and growing a strong sustainable economy."

While the agreement announced Friday and published on the provincial government website is not the final accord between the two parties, it does note that the policies and budget commitments outlined in the agreement "are not subject to change." 

The final version of the accord will be executed in January, according to the agreement.

The agreement lists 11 specific policy initiatives that the parties agree to pursue, under the headings "health care," "mental health care," "housing," "renters protection," "homelessness," "transit," "climate," "environment," "social and economic justice," "taxation," and "democratic and electoral reform."

This last heading includes a commitment to create a special legislative all-party committee to recommend policies to be pursued in 2026 around the issues of democratic engagement and voter participation, "increasing political polarization," and improving "the representativeness of government."

"The committee will review and consider preferred methods of proportional representation as part of its deliberations," the agreement reads.

Other key commitments in the agreement include a pledge from the government to complete a review of its CleanBC program in 2025, one year earlier than scheduled, and to support the growth of the "Community Health Centre" model for primary care facilities in the province.

According to the document, the Green Party agrees to support the government on "all confidence votes," as well as "agreed-upon motions and government bills."

"We are two distinct parties with two distinct identities, and we won't always agree," Eby said in his statement.

"We also have many shared values. The agreement lays out specific areas of action we will work together to achieve. This agreement will strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians. We will continue to work with all MLAs who want to make the legislature work for people." 

The October provincial election left the NDP with 47 seats, the slimmest possible majority in B.C.'s 93-seat legislature.

Working with the Greens, who won two seats, will give the New Democrats more breathing room when attempting to pass legislation and survive confidence votes.

The NDP and B.C. Greens last formally worked together during former premier John Horgan's first term, when he and former Green leader Andrew Weaver reached a confidence and supply agreement allowing the two parties to unseat Christy Clark's B.C. Liberals after the 2017 election.

The agreement lasted until 2020, when Horgan called a snap election and was re-elected to a majority government.