The ruling B.C. NDP has announced a co-operation agreement with the B.C. Green Party that Premier David Eby says will “strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians.”
Called the 2024 Co-operation and Responsible Government Accord, the document outlines a list of priorities agreed upon by the parities, including health care, affordable housing and the economy.
The term of the deal is four years, to be renewed annually.
“We are two distinct parties with two distinct identities, and we won’t always agree. We also have many shared values. The agreement lays out specific areas of action we will work together to achieve,” said Eby in a statement.
The NDP won a bare majority of 47 seats in October’s provincial election, with the Conservative Party of B.C. taking 44 and the Greens two.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has said he would work to bring the NDP government down if it continues with its “destructive policies.”
Deputy Premier and Attorney General Nikki Sharma led the announcement of the accord which she said was hammered out over the past few weeks.
“In the time we are today, it’s great to find a space where we can speak across differences,” said Sharma. “It’s important that we build bridges and I’m really grateful for the B.C. Green Party and all the people at the table that got us to today.
“[The accord] doesn’t restrict B.C. Greens from holding government accountable,” said Green MLA Jeremey Valeriote, “but [this] gives us an active role in delivering on specific priorities for British Columbians.”
The agreement announced on Friday is different from the confidence-and-supply agreement reached between the two parties that propped up the John Horgan-led NDP minority government in 2017.
It names initiatives such as more community health centres, expanded mental health care coverage, non-profit housing, homelessness, updating the Clean B.C. climate plan, protecting Fairy Creek and discussing electoral reform.
Valeriote said he was particularly happy with a commitment to provide better transit in under-served areas, including in his riding.
“I’m ecstatic to finally bring transit to the Sea to Sky corridor after decades of planning,” said Valeriote.
