Greens prepare list of conditions to support minority government

Green Leader David Coon says his party is preparing a list of conditions that would have to be met for it to support a minority government after next month's provincial election.

Coon refused to reveal those conditions at a news conference Thursday, where he unveiled his first platform commitment ahead of next week's official start of the campaign.

"Should we hold the balance of power after the election, there is a list of measures that we would insist on seeing implemented but I'm not going to share that list with you," he said.

"We're working on a list, should we not form the government."

Coon made the comments after promising a Green government would give households with income less than $70,000 a $25-per-month payment to help them cope with higher N.B. Power bills.

He said he would also cancel a subsidy program that lets pulp mills generate electricity, sell it to the utility and then buy it back at a reduced price. 

But Coon didn't say whether those two promises would be on his list of conditions.

The election is scheduled for Oct. 21.

WATCH | 'There will be negotiations': Green leader on minority government scenario:

N.B. Green leader prepares list of conditions for support

3 months ago

Duration 1:03

David Coon says if no party wins a majority in election, he’ll have a list of demands in return for his votes.

If no party wins a majority and Coon's Greens retain their toehold in the legislature, the party would hold the balance of power, determining whether a government can pass its budget and legislation.

Last year Coon ruled out propping up the Progressive Conservatives as long as Premier Blaine Higgs remains leader.

Liberal Leader Susan Holt hasn't been willing to discuss relying on the Greens to stay in power but Coon said Thursday she would not have much choice if she falls short of a majority.

"There will be negotiations, whatever she says, if she has the greatest number of seats. In a minority situation, she's going to have to have some support to stay in power to form a government," he said.

In 2018 no party won a majority, and then-Liberal Premier Brian Gallant courted the three Green MLAs to strike a deal that would keep him in power.

But even with a deal, the People's Alliance decision to back the Progressive Conservatives meant the combined Liberal-Green numbers weren't enough for Gallant to win a confidence vote on his government's throne speech.

After that defeat, Gallant's government resigned and the Blaine Higgs PC government was sworn in a week later.