VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – NDP leader John Horgan and Green Party leader Andrew Weaver are accusing Premier Christy Clark of deliberately delaying a change in government by ordering Liberal MLAs to refuse the role of speaker.

The New Democrats and Greens together hold 44 seats in the House, so losing an MLA to the speaker’s chair would give Clark more time to hold on to power when the legislature is recalled June 22nd.

During a joint news conference this morning, Weaver went as far as to accuse Clark of “mischief.”

“This Premier has such disregard for the rules of this place — such utter disrespect and disregard for this rule that she would do something like that, tell her people, tell her people that they cannot have their name come forward. To actually tell her people, insist that they resign,” he says.

This comes after speculation about a possible discord between Weaver and Horgan since they agreed to form a new 44-seat majority government in Victoria.

They insist the BC Liberals are using the media to ‘sow discontent’ in BC politics.

They also say tradition requires the ruling government puts forward a speaker, but Clark stands to lose power in a confidence vote before Canada Day.

NEWS 1130 has reached out to Christy Clark’s office for a response to these claims, but we have yet to hear back.