Article content continued

Given the numbers — together the Greens and NDP hold 44 seats, one seat more than the Liberals in the 87-seat legislature — the confidence motion will likely be defeated, said Cameron. “The elegant thing for her to do is resign.”

On Monday, Clark wasn’t ready to concede defeat.

Her office issued a statement, saying: “As the incumbent government, and the party with the most seats in the legislature, we have a responsibility to carefully consider our next steps. I will consult on those steps with the newly elected B.C. Liberal caucus, and have more to say tomorrow.”

If Clark doesn’t resign, the government’s first challenge will come in the fall in a confidence motion, such as a throne speech or a budget vote. If she fails to win the confidence of the legislature, Clark would be expected to resign or recommend an election.

Lieutenant-Governor Judith Guichon can accept the recommendation or ask NDP Leader John Horgan to form a government.

Photo by Darryl Dyck / CP

Jeremy Webber, dean of law at the University of Victoria, said he doesn’t think Clark will push the political process that far.

“I think she will (resign),” he said. “It’s not a surprise she didn’t do it today. Sometimes these political agreements start to unravel, it’s quite reasonable of her to say we are considering the situation.”

If Clark drags this out, she would be putting the lieutenant-governor in an uncommon and unpleasant situation, he said.

But some political scientists aren’t ruling out a fight from a premier known for her scrappy political style and nicknamed “the comeback kid.”