BC Green MLAs Undermine Next Leader with Weak Deal That Cements Party as NDP’s Junior Partner

The BC Green Party’s decision to sign the Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord (CARGA) with the BC NDP is a stunning misstep that undermines the party’s independence and, more importantly, its next leader. At a time when the Greens should be preparing for a fresh direction, the party’s two MLAs—Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell have locked the next leader into an agreement that weakens their ability to challenge the government.

An Agreement Without Real Commitments

The deal focuses on broad policy intentions rather than enforceable commitments. While the BC Greens claim to have secured progress on housing, healthcare, transit, and social support, the agreement contains no binding targets, funding allocations, or timelines.

The only immediate, concrete win is the removal of spousal clawbacks on disability payments, a small but necessary reform. Beyond that, all other promises—like “tens of thousands” of non-market housing units—are vague aspirations with no accountability mechanism to ensure delivery. If the NDP fails to follow through, the Greens have no leverage to hold them accountable without breaking the agreement.

Silencing the Next Leader Before They Even Take Office

The most damaging consequence of this deal is that it strips the next Green leader of their ability to define the party’s direction. The Greens are currently in the midst of a leadership race, and whoever takes over will inherit a party that has already been bound to supporting the NDP’s agenda.

Rather than giving the next leader the opportunity to shape how the party engages with the government, Valeriote and Rob Botterell have preemptively signed away that authority. Instead of entering the next election as a strong opposition voice, the Greens will be forced to defend an agreement that ties them to a government they should be challenging.

The Real Winners: The BC NDP

The BC NDP benefits the most from this agreement. Premier David Eby now has a cooperative Green Party with no ability to meaningfully oppose his government’s failures, all without having to give up anything substantial in return. The Greens, in contrast, lose their ability to set themselves apart as a real alternative to the status quo.

By handing the NDP political cover while securing only minor concessions, Valeriote and Botterell have weakened their own party’s ability to compete in the next election. They have done exactly what the NDP wanted them to do—neutralize the Greens as a real political threat.

A Deal That No Longer Makde Sense

One of the most baffling aspects of the BC Greens’ decision to sign this agreement is that by the time it was finalized, it was no longer necessary.

On election night, the BC NDP and the BC Conservatives were in a near-deadlock, with the NDP leading or elected in 46 ridings and the Conservatives in 45—both just short of the 47 seats needed for a majority. At that point, it was reasonable to think that the BC Greens, the only other party to win seats, might play a decisive role in securing an NDP majority.

But a week later, the Final Count was announced: the NDP had secured 47 seats outright, while the Conservatives had dropped to 44. Suddenly, the idea that the Greens needed to enter into a formal cooperation agreement no longer held weight—the NDP already had a working majority.

Then, on March 7, the situation shifted even further when BC Conservative Leader John Rustad expelled an MLA from caucus, triggering two additional defections. By the time the Greens signed their agreement on March 12, the Conservatives had dropped to 41 seats and the NDP’s majority was firmly secured.

So why did the Greens still go ahead with the deal? The NDP no longer needed them to govern, which meant the Greens had no real leverage to extract meaningful policy concessions. Instead of negotiating from a position of power, they handed the NDP political cover at a time when it was completely unnecessary.

By locking themselves into this agreement after the power dynamic had already shifted, Valeriote and Botterdale gave up the chance to hold the NDP accountable as an independent force. Instead, they chose to attach themselves to a government that no longer needed their support—without getting anything concrete in return.

A Clause That Gives the Greens Some Leverage

Unlike the 2017 Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA), this new agreement includes strong “agree to disagree” provisions and a one-year renewal clause, which theoretically allows the BC Greens to maintain their independence while cooperating with the government. These provisions mean the Greens can apply pressure annually to either push for stronger commitments or walk away if the NDP fails to follow through.

While this gives the Greens an opportunity to renegotiate terms each year, it does not change the fact that they entered into the agreement with little leverage. The NDP no longer needed their support, yet the Greens signed on without securing specific funding or legislative guarantees.

If the BC Greens want this clause to be meaningful, they will have to use it aggressively—otherwise, it risks being nothing more than a procedural formality that does little to strengthen their position.

A Critical Mistake That Could Cost the Greens Their Future

If the BC Greens want to survive as an independent political force, their next leader will have to work twice as hard to break free from the constraints of this deal. Otherwise, the party risks becoming nothing more than a junior partner to the NDP, forever sidelined from real political influence.

By signing this agreement, Valeriote and Botterell have not only weakened their party in the short term—they have undercut the very leader who was supposed to bring the Greens into their next chapter.