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In this occasional feature, the National Post tells you everything you need to know about a complicated issue. Today, Stuart Thomson examines the political situation in British Columbia and the possibility of a new election:

OK, let’s get this out of the way first. Are we headed towards another election?

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It seems likely, but it comes a lot sooner in one scenario than the other.

Philippe Lagassé, a Carleton University professor who studies our parliamentary system, said a new election is likely to be called soon, simply because the proposed NDP/Green alliance is so fragile. The two parties lose their majority if only one MLA is missing from the legislature, and that spells trouble for any government. This could lead to another election due to a failed confidence vote in the next year to 18 months, so at least British Columbians would have some time to catch their breath between elections.

In the other scenario, once the legislature returns Thursday, current B.C. Premier Christy Clark would give her throne speech, lose the confidence of the house and then ask the lieutenant-governor to dissolve the legislature and launch another election campaign. Clark has said she won’t do that, but the idea has been cropping up recently in B.C. That could bring a new election in a matter of months.