The last thing I want is an election but we’ll be prepared if it’s necessary,’ Eby said. Premier David Eby did not rule out calling an early election if his government cannot pass the bill to support the North Coast Transmission Line.
Bill 31, introduced last week, would fast-track construction of a multi-billion dollar power transmission line that would double the amount of electricity that flows from Prince George to Terrace. “This is non-negotiable for us. This bill must pass,” Eby said.
“I would stake our government on it. The last thing I want is an election but we’ll be prepared if it’s necessary.” The North Coast Transmission Line is designed to power critical mineral projects and LNG terminals in B.C.’s north.
Eby’s comments came the day after the B.C. Conservatives tried to delay the bill by presenting a hoist motion, which would have slowed the bill’s progress by at least six months. Their motion, however, did not pass.
In response to the hoist motion, Eby accused the B.C. Conservatives of pulling a “stunt” that would have put thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue at risk.
“It is the economic future of this province,” Eby said.
The NDP has a narrow, one-seat majority and in cases of confidence motions, Speaker Raj Chouhan — MLA for Burnaby-New Westminster — is able to break the tie.
The NDP government and the B.C. Greens have an agreement that the two Green MLAs will vote with the government on confidence motions. However, the party’s new leader, Emily Lowan, has said she wants to renegotiate that agreement.
Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/bc
