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Former Premier Gordon Campbell briefly considered holding the second referendum in conjunction with municipal elections, but opted instead to have it with the 2009 provincial election after pushback from municipal leaders.

Electoral reform was a key issue in power-sharing talks between the Greens and NDP. NDP Leader John Horgan said he felt strongly that a referendum on the issue was necessary before a government could change how the province votes. Green Leader Andrew Weaver said his party preferred to change the system first, and then hold a referendum once voters could see how it worked.

The two leaders appear to have found a middle-ground on their positions by agreeing to a four-year power-sharing accord that both say will show British Columbians that minority governments can work, and by extension so can electoral reform.

The Green-NDP agreement is set to be ratified by the NDP caucus in Victoria Tuesday. Together, the NDP and Greens have the 44 votes in the legislature necessary to defeat Premier Christy Clark’s 43-vote Liberal government.

Clark is expected to speak publicly Tuesday about whether she’ll resign, or – as is her right as the incumbent premier – call back the legislature and be voted down by the NDP and Greens on a matter of confidence pertaining to her throne speech and budget. She would then have to resign anyway.

rshaw@postmedia.com

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