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Cheers were louder than ever at the BC Green Party’s annual convention in Sidney Saturday. “We’ve got 300 plus people here from all over British Columbia,” said Party Leader Andrew Weaver, “there’s also a sense of celebration because we’re in a position we haven’t been in, forever.” It’s the first convention since their historic three seat win on may 9th, and the first since joining the NDP to unseat a 16-year liberal government. “So much has changed since the last green party convention, that we’re really in an entirely new world,” says MLA for Cowichan Valley, Sonia Furstenau . Adam Olsen says the convention being held in his riding feels different than other years. “think there’s a sense we’ve got a job to do in Victoria. In the past, the Greens were putting out principled and really strong ideas, we were on the outside looking in,” said the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, ” over the last term, we had Andrew working in the legislature but now there’s three of us there”Attendees posted suggestions for the caucus and shared issues that are top of mind for members. Among the hot topics during a question period was the campaign promise for a referendum on proportional representation and questions about the effectiveness of an NDP and Green Party agreement. “There are differences in vision, so I think there’s certainly a desire to maintain independence but it’s always with an air of cooperation,” said one attendee. Sonia Furstenau said an agreement with the NDP was the best way to propel policies. “We’re achieving pieces of our platform that we couldn’t have achieved if we hadn’t gone into an agreement.” MLAs will head back Victoria Septmber 8th when a new session begins.