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The origins of Plecas’s defection appear to be when he spoke up against Liberal leader Christy Clark at a Liberal caucus retreat in Penticton, held on July 27, shortly after the Clark government fell in a no-confidence vote. Plecas threatened to quit unless Clark resigned. Clarkultimately stepped down rather than fight Plecas publicly.

But many Liberal MLAs were furious at the Abbotsford MLA for attacking their leader.

Photo by CHAD HIPOLITO / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Plecas went public with the story of his actions in Penticton to his local paper, prompting Farnworth to pick up the phone and call him, say those familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two MLAs had lunch. The NDP would be willing to support Plecas for Speaker if he wanted the job, Farnworth offered. Plecas expressed interest, and the two cut a deal over a series of phone calls before Plecas left for holidays in August.

Behind the scenes, the Liberals had no idea what was going on. Plecas hadn’t attended any caucus meetings since Penticton. He returned from holidays on Sept. 6, but failed to show up to another caucus meeting on Sept. 7, citing a doctor’s appointment.

Interim Liberal leader Rich Coleman got Plecas on the phone that morning. He thought he’d received assurance that Plecas would opt out of the Speaker’s job by submitting the required opt-out form by the deadline of 6 p.m. that day. Yet when the Liberals checked that evening, Plecas hadn’t opted out.

Coleman got Plecas on the phone again. “I spoke to him last evening for an hour, he had indicated at 10 a.m. (Friday) morning he’d be sending in his form,” said Coleman. That didn’t happen either. Plecas skipped a planned meeting with Coleman at 9 a.m. Instead, Plecas went and sat alone in the legislative chamber, at a back desk, and waited for other MLAs to arrive.