Voters in British Columbia head to the polls today at the end of a sometimes bruising 28-day campaign fought on jobs, the economy and the influence of big donors in provincial politics.
The B.C. Liberal party has been in power for 16 years and is attempting to build on four straight majority governments by running on the party’s record of economic growth and financial stability.
The NDP has tried to make Christy Clark’s leadership as premier the central issue of the campaign, with party leader John Horgan accusing her of being out of touch with average people over issues like the cost of housing and inadequate education funding.
FULL COVERAGE: B.C. election 2017
Green Leader Andrew Weaver’s pitch features a disavowal of politics as usual, telling voters his party is the only one offering something that’s different on climate change and preparing the province for a new economy spurred by technological change.
Negative ads and attacks between the NDP and the Liberals over political fundraising laws that place no limits on corporate and union donations have also been a prime part of the political debate.
READ MORE: B.C. Election 2017: The 6 ridings to watch on election night
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The NDP accuses the Liberals of dragging their feet on political fundraising by failing to back its bills in the legislature that would have banned donations from the corporate and labour sectors, while the Liberals have shot back at donations the New Democrats received from the United Steelworkers.
In the campaign’s final days, Weaver’s supporters became a hot commodity as the New Democrats tried to persuade voters they are the only real alternative to the Liberals.
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On Monday, Horgan made a final pitch to anyone who is undecided to back the NDP.
“To those voters not yet decided, join with us, come together and let’s create a better B.C.,” he said at a campaign stop in Surrey.
Horgan made a direct appeal last week for Green supporters to back the NDP, telling them they share common goals in their support for electoral reform, measures to fight climate change and opposition to the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline.
Weaver was critical of the NDP for courting Green supporters, saying he is trying to inspire people to vote for something.
READ MORE: B.C. election 2017: a look at promises made by BC Liberals, BC NDP and BC Green parties
Minority government are rare in British Columbia. There have only been three in provincial history, with the last in 1952.
On the eve of the election, Weaver wouldn’t discuss where he would throw his support if no party wins a majority of seats.
“It would be irresponsible for me to undermine any negotiating potential I would have prior to people going to vote, to actually say what we would do,” said Weaver, the lone Green in the legislature after the last election.
“We have a platform with very clear views and ideas that we would like to get forward in a negotiation. We would try to ensure that many of the ideas are there.”
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Getting “big money out of politics,” proportional representation and climate change are among the Greens’ top priorities, said Weaver, whose party has banned corporate and union donations.
Clark maintained her focus on jobs and the economy on the campaign’s last day, arguing that the other parties risk economic growth by making promises that would run up the debt.
“None of the other two parties share anything in common with us,” she said. “I’m just working hard to make sure British Columbian’s know what I stand for, what I believe in and the choice, the really, really stark choice, in this election.”
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