Province in “Caretaker Mode”

PRINCE GEORGE – The 42nd provincial election is over and the NDP have a majority in the Legislature and while Premier-Elect John Horgan says he’ll be heading to the office, he won’t form a government for at least two weeks until half a million mail-in ballots are counted. Not only that, four ridings are, as yet, undecided. It means the provincial government is in what is called “caretaker mode.”

“A function of an Executive in government is to oversee the administration of government and that continues when there’s an election,” explains Joson Morris, UNBC Political Scientist. “It’s just that, when there’s an election, there’s no parliament. So there’s no elected chamber to hole ministers and the Premier to account.”

In 2017, the Liberals won 43 seats, the NDP 41 seats and the Greens three seats. It took months before the Greens opted to side with the NDP and government could be formed. Not to say it will take that long this election, but it is frustrating for the MLA-Elect, nonetheless.