A big byelection in BC that could have an impact on Alberta
Posted Jan 30, 2019 7:15 am.
Last Updated Jan 30, 2019 10:30 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – There is a provincial race in BC that could be important for Albertans.
There will be a byelection in Nanaimo on Wednesday that could threaten the NDP and Green alliance in that province.
This is all about the balance of power. With such a slight lead in the number of seats for the NDP and Green party, just this one riding could result in a vote of non-confidence meaning British Columbians could be heading back to the polls for a provincial election.
John Ackermann is with our sister station in BC and is a keen observer of politics.
He noted the BC Liberals have not been nearly as antagonistic against projects like the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
“The NDP mind you are even softening their stance on things like liquefied natural gas. But if you remember back when Christy Clark was the premier, she was never against the pipeline. She wanted what she wanted to call ‘getting to yes’ on it.”
The BC Liberals have held this riding in particular for only four years going back to the 1970s, yet have been leading in recent polls.
“The NDP is running a person there as well,” he recounted. “The Greens, who are their alliance partners in the government, are also running a candidate. So there is a bit of controversy over possible vote-splitting there.”
Yet Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver is discounting many of those worries.
Ackermann interjected this wouldn’t be uncommon for a minority government in BC to only last a year and a half.
