The final numbers are in but that has just muddied B.C.’s political scene further.
The tally of absentee ballots and recounts was completed Wednesday and the results from May 9’s provincial election are the Liberals with 43 seats, the NDP with 41 and the Greens with three.
Parties and pundits are trying to determine what happens next to form government.
“The next few days are pretty crucial for the province,” said Greg Kyllo, Shuswap Liberal MLA, of the House resuming May 31.
What happens next will largely hinge on what the Greens do with their three seats and if they support the Liberals or the NDP, or remain independent.
“A lot of negotiations are going on,” said Kyllo.
Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee’s Liberal MLA, is also watching the situation closely.
“We’ve never done this before so I don’t know what happens. It’s negotiations 101 to see where it goes,” he said.
Foster says there will be challenges as one MLA will be appointed speaker of the House while cabinet ministers and MLAs require the ability to leave the Legislature to do their jobs.
“Who ever sits on the government side is in the same boat,” he said, adding that the politicial uncertainty could continue for several months.
“There’s no appetite to go back to the polls. It’s an exhausting process for everyone involved. We’ll find an agreement somewhere.”