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VICTORIA — Green leader Andrew Weaver signalled Wednesday he will try to bring proportional representation to B.C. without a referendum, saying it would be a non-negotiable item in power-sharing talks with the NDP and B.C. Liberals.

“Our position has been that we would bring in proportional representation without a referendum because it is one of our six guiding principles, and we cannot go against who we are,” Weaver told reporters outside the legislature.

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The guiding principle commits the Greens to “working to create proportionally elected governments that represent and engage citizens,” which neither mandates a time line nor rules out a referendum.

For all Weaver’s effort to cloak the demand in high-minded principle, it happily and precisely coincides with his political interest as well.

Proportional representation — where the party’s seat count in the legislature more closely matches its share of the popular vote — would be a boon to the Greens. In the recent election, it would have boosted them from three to 15 in the seat count.