Emerging from last week害羞草研究所檚 too-close-to-call election, B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver had a clear first priority if he ends up with the balance of power in a minority legislature 害羞草研究所� cleaning up B.C.害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渨ild west害羞草研究所� election donations.

But after days of uncertainty over recounts, and discussions with B.C. Liberal leader Christy Clark and NDP leader John Horgan, a new top priority emerged 害羞草研究所� official party status for the Greens. In an interview Sunday on CTV害羞草研究所檚 Question Period, Weaver said party recognition is one of his 害羞草研究所渄eal breakers害羞草研究所� in talks with other parties.

害羞草研究所淣umber one is of course, with three seats, we don害羞草研究所檛 get official party status,害羞草研究所� Weaver said. 害羞草研究所淲e would sit as independents, and that害羞草研究所檚 simply not acceptable to us. So we would seek official party status for the three Green seats so that we actually are the Green Party and we don害羞草研究所檛 have to negotiate for speaking time etc., we get allocated time.害羞草研究所�

Official status is automatically achieved with four seats, providing additional taxpayer-funded political staff as well as guaranteed speaking time in the legislature. The B.C. Greens held Weaver害羞草研究所檚 Oak Bay-Gordon Head seat, and elected Adam Olsen in Saanich North and the Islands and Sonia Furstenau in Cowichan Valley.

Election finance reform is now Weaver害羞草研究所檚 second priority, after the Greens refused all but individual donations in the campaign for the May 9 vote.

害羞草研究所淎ny person, any company, any corporation, any individual anywhere in the world can donate any amount of money, any time they want, to any political party in B.C.,害羞草研究所� Weaver said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 just wrong and we害羞草研究所檒l insist that that happens.害羞草研究所�

Clark remains premier at least until May 24, when a recount settles results in Courtenay-Comox, where the NDP finished the initial count with a nine-vote lead. A B.C. Liberal win there would give the party a bare majority of 44 seats.

Horgan has argued that with a majority of voters choosing an alternative to the ruling party, conditions exist for opposition parties to take over.

The question of minority government with support or a formal coalition between the NDP and the Greens is also undecided, and won害羞草研究所檛 be known until the result in Courtenay-Comox is finalized.