British Columbia’s NDP government and the B.C. Green Party have reached a deal to reinforce the New Democrats’ control over the provincial legislature, where they hold a narrow majority.
The confidence agreement was first announced in December of 2024 and was finalized March 12 between the NDP, which has 47 seats in the 93-seat legislature, and the Green Party, which has two.
The deal means the Green Party’s two MLAs will provide confidence to Eby’s government by voting with them in the legislature.
The agreement gives the government a cushion, as the NDP could’ve been left vulnerable to a non-confidence vote in the legislature without the arrangement.
If the Official Opposition B.C. Conservatives with 41 seats, voted against the government with the support of the three Independent MLAs and the two Greens, Eby’s NDP would have only a one-vote majority if all of the party’s members were present in the legislature.
The confidence agreement features a commitment by the NDP to involve the Greens in discussions about U.S. tariff and trade measures linked to mutual initiatives such as housing, health care, transit, environmental and climate concerns, social justice, and electoral reform.
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“With the finalization of this agreement, people can expect to see the legislature work together and make progress on the big challenges we are facing,” Premier David Eby said in a press release. “This agreement confirms our commitment to the values of British Columbians, and we look forward to the work ahead with the BC Greens.”
Interim Green Leader Jeremy Valeriote said the deal is based on shared priorities between the two parties, and that the arrangement facilitates a “stable government” as Canada deals with tariffs from the United States.
The primary shared objectives of the parties involve the establishment of affordable non-market housing units and ending spousal clawbacks on disability payments, alongside a pledge to expand transit routes.
The two parties reached a similar deal in 2017 that resulted in the establishment of a minority NDP-Green coalition government.
The arrangement was abruptly terminated when NDP Premier John Horgan announced a snap election in 2020. Horgan went on to lead his party to victory with a 57-seat majority.
