The B.C. legislature convenes Thursday, June 22, to elect a speaker and trigger the vote that is expected to bring 16 years of B.C. Liberal government to an end.

B.C. Liberal house leader Mike de Jong made the announcement Wednesday in Victoria Wednesday. It sets the stage for the opposition B.C. Greens and B.C. NDP to join forces and defeat the government on its throne speech, which will likely be presented the following week.

The B.C. Liberals won 43 seats in the May 9 election, with the B.C. NDP winning 421 and B.C. Greens three. Premier Christy Clark has indicated her government will present a throne speech, which means the B.C. Liberals will likely have to appoint a speaker to allow business to continue.

That sets up the first opportunity for a confidence vote on the government鈥檚 throne speech, which would defeat the government if all opposition MLAs vote against it.