A former Liberal member of British Columbia's legislature has taken on the important job of Speaker, breaking with parliamentary tradition and giving some breathing room to the New Democrat's razor-thin minority government.
Darryl Plecas has been acclaimed as the new Speaker to referee debates in the province's often fractious 87-seat legislature.
Plecas was escorted into the legislature by house leaders of both the NDP and Liberals, shortly after the Liberal party released a statement removing Plecas from its caucus.
Interim Liberal Leader Rich Coleman says in a statement that Plecas made it clear to him he would not seek the office of Speaker and that he took him at his word.
Plecas's acclamation ends months of speculation on how Premier John Horgan could manage the government with such a narrow minority, if he had to put up one of his own members as Speaker.
(The Canadian Press)