While the dramatic cliffhanger B.C. election left many questions unanswered, one thing is clear - B.C. Liberal Premier Christy Clark is finished.
During his non-concession, non-victory speech late Tuesday night, he encouraged supporters to "hang tight" until all the absentee and mail-in ballots are counted and said the majority of British Columbians voted for change. "If the Greens cave in on that and go along with them (the Liberals), that's not going to help Weaver all that much", said Meredith, suggesting going against his anti-pipeline voters' beliefs would not help him at the polls next time.
"We have a range of issues in common, but my focus is on the people of British Columbia, and if Mr. Weaver and others want to join with me, I'm happy to do that".
Based on the current results, the Greens could prop up the Liberals or form a coalition with the NDP, as 44 seats are needed for a majority.
That vote will be destined for a recount, and could be vulnerable to absentee ballots that won't be counted for almost two weeks, between May 22 and 24.
Recounts and absentee ballots could still sway the final tally, such as with the Courtenay-Comox riding swinging to the NDP by a mere nine votes.
The NDP won 41 seats and the Greens have three seats, leaving Weaver to determine whether to side with the Liberals or the New Democrats in a minority government situation.
"I suspect other parties would be crawling over themselves to actually offer us official party status in light of where we stand today".
"The big win for the Green Party is electoral reform because small parties like the Greens are forever disadvantaged by a first-past-the-post system".
The Greens received eight per cent of the popular vote in the 2013 election along with their lone seat, but Weaver boldly forecasted gains in areas of NDP strength on Vancouver Island and the Kootenays.
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The average age of the candidates who made the cut is 46 compared to 60 for the outgoing assembly. Many are newcomers in politics.
In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Clark told reporters she never thought it was going to be anything but a really tough election.
Desjardins Capital Markets analysts said in a note that a minority government in B.C. could present significant challenges for the Canadian energy sector.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers industry lobby group, whose members depend on export routes such as Trans Mountain, said: "We're prepared to continue to advocate for our interests". Horgan said the NDP would balance the budget by raising taxes on the top two per cent of earners and by using a $500-million "LNG prosperity fund" that Clark created out of general revenue.
Weaver said negotiations on what his party's role would be would begin Wednesday. She loses majority in British Columbia Legislature, will likely lose her job.
This could also mean the end of the province's controversial Site C Dam project. The party took several Liberal ridings in the city of Vancouver and won a handful of battleground ridings in the suburbs of Metro Vancouver, including seats in Surrey, Coquitlam and Delta.
"The NDP would have done worse in this election if it were not for the Green vote", said Harrison.
Party leader Andrew Weaver was re-elected in his riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
A return of the BC Liberals tonight under Clark would largely maintain course, amid some promises to reduce MSP premiums and cap tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges.
One of Clark's surprise moves during the campaign was to pledge to ban or tax out of viability USA thermal coal exports through B.C. ports in retaliation for US duties on softwood lumber.
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