B.C. Liberals seek Speaker clarifications before Thursday’s confidence vote
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s Liberal government is being accused of stalling on its expected defeat in the legislature by seeking procedural advice from the Speaker before a confidence vote.
Liberal house leader Mike de Jong sent a four-page letter to Speaker Steve Thomson on Tuesday hoping for clarification on voting issues for the legislature’s 87 members to consider before the confidence vote, which is expected on Thursday.
He asked if the Speaker will be called to cast a deciding vote when the legislature is tied, citing examples where the Speaker doesn’t always cast a vote to break a tie but sometimes calls for the sides to debate the issue further.
He has also asked whether the Speaker would participate in committee debates, adding he believes the rules state the Speaker does not take part and never votes in the committee process.