The ruling BC NDP has announced a cooperation agreement with the BC Green Party that Premier David Abby says will “strengthen government stability and help meet the priorities of British Columbians.”
called to 2024 Cooperation and Responsible Government AgreementThe document outlines a list of priorities agreed by the parties, including health care, affordable housing and the economy.
The term of the agreement is four years, to be renewed annually.
“We are two different parties with two different identities, and we will not always agree. We also have many shared values. The agreement sets out specific areas of action that we will work together to achieve,” Eby said in a statement.
In October's provincial election, the NDP won a bare majority of 47 seats, with B.C.'s Conservative Party taking 44 and the Greens two.
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad says he will work to topple the NDP government if it continues with “disastrous policies.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General Nikki Sharma led the announcement of the agreement, which she said had been broken over the past few weeks.
“It's great to find a place where we can speak across differences, in this day and age,” Sharma said. “It's important that we build bridges and I'm grateful for the BC Green Party and all the people at the table that got us to where we are today.
“(The agreement) doesn't prohibit the BC Greens from holding the government accountable,” said Green MLA Jeremy Valleriot, “but (it) gives us an active role in delivering specific priorities for British Columbians.”
The agreement announced Friday differs from the confidence and supply agreement reached in 2017 between the two parties that supported the NDP minority government led by John Horgan.
It names initiatives such as more community health centers, expanded mental health care coverage, non-profit housing, homelessness, updating the Clean BC Climate Plan, discussing the safety of Fairy Creek and electoral reform.
Valleriot said he was especially pleased with the commitment to provide better transit to underserved areas, including his riding.
“After decades of planning, I'm excited to finally bring transit to the Sky Corridor at Sea,” said Valeriot.
