Canadian Government Executive - Volume 25 - Issue 04

30 / Canadian Government Executive // October/November 2019 LAST WORD the election and came first in seat count (the Liberals election 43 members to the NDP’s 41) but was defeated on a Speech from the Throne when the legislature returned. Then Premier Chris- ty Clark asked the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the House, which would trigger a new election. However, NDP and Green leaders John Horgan and Andrew Weaver had already released their confidence and supply agreement, under which they agreed to work together for a period of four years on common priorities. The Lieutenant Governor denied Premier Clark’s request and asked Mr. Horgan to form a government. The parties have been working together ever since. But other provinces with minority governments have taken dif- ferent paths forward. The 2018 election in New Brunswick pro- duced a similarly close result: the incumbent Liberals won 21 seats, the Progressive Conservatives 22, and the Greens and the People’s Alliance won three seats each. The Liberals lost the vote on their Throne Speech, at which point Premier Brian Gallant resigned and the Lieutenant Governor asked PC leader Blaine Higgs to form a government. The People’s Alliance has pledged to support his government for a period of 18 months. There is noth- ing formal about this arrangement, but it seems to be stable for the time being. Prince Edward Island is a different story altogether. The Pro- gressive Conservatives missed the majority threshold by just one seat and, for the first time ever, the Greens elected enough mem- bers to form the Official Opposition. The cooperation between the parties is almost too easy; in fact, all of the parties voted in support of the PC’s first budget. This outcome suggests smooth negotiations between the three house leaders and successful pre- budget consultations. At the federal level, the Liberal minority government will likely be kept intact through a series of ad hoc partnerships with the NDP or the BQ, depending on the issue. It will be the role of the public service to provide support to a government that is return- ing with a diminished mandate and must find support from other parties to implement its agenda. The release of the ministerial mandate letters will provide key information regarding the Liberals’ short, medium, and long-term priorities and will send important signals to the two kingmakers- in-waiting regarding opportunities to partner. These letters will be important guides to the public servants who will provide ad- vice and support during a potentially uncertain time. D r . L ori T urnbull is the Director of the School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University and the deputy editor of Canadian Government Executive. At the federal level, the Liberal minority government will likely be kept intact through a series of ad hoc partnerships with the NDP or the BQ, depending on the issue.