BC NDP lead, but Conservatives, BC United neck and neck: poll

Eligible voters in B.C. are gearing up to head to the polls in just over a year to choose the next provincial government, and according to a recent poll, the incumbents have a comfortable lead.

According to new data from the Angus Reid Institute, more than 40 per cent of those surveyed intend to vote for the BC New Democratic Party in next year’s election.

But the burgeoning Conservative Party of BC looks to be a growing contender. The Conservatives are now running in third spot, just behind BC United with 21 and 22 per cent of respondents intending to vote for them, respectively.

“[BC United] has seen its share of the vote projection dip considerably since opting for a name change and rebrand from the BC Liberal Party. Since making that change in April of this year, BC United has dropped nine points from 31 per cent to 22 per cent,” Angus Reid explained in a statement.

“The BC Conservatives acclaimed former BC Liberal MLA John Rustad as leader earlier this year and appear to be in the midst of a surge in support. Rustad – who had been sitting as an independent since being expelled from his former party last summer – was joined in September by another party-switching colleague, Bruce Banman, giving the BC Conservatives official party status in the legislature.”

In order to gain more favour from the public, University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford believes BC United needs to remind everyone that the party used to govern the province.

“There seems to be some confusion amongst voters about who BC United is,” he said. “For Kevin Falcon and BC United … they really need to get out there … I think a lot of it for him is about messaging.”

Telford notes that it hasn’t been long since the party, then known as the British Columbia Liberal Party, was in charge of the province under the leadership of Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark.

Clark last held the position as B.C.’s premier in 2017.

Meanwhile, more than half of respondents believe Premier David Eby is doing a good job, as he sees a 51 per cent approval rating.

It comes as British Columbians say the cost of living, health care, and housing affordability are their top three concerns, and say the government isn’t handling the challenges well.

“Two-thirds (67%) say the BC NDP is performing poorly on health care, while four-in-five say this of both the cost of living (78%) and housing affordability (82%),” Angus Reid said.

When it comes to Eby’s challengers, 28 per cent of respondents have a “favourable” view of BC United Leader Kevin Falcon, with 24 per cent saying the same of Conservative Leader John Rustad. BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau has a 35 per cent “favourable” rating.

With files from Martin MacMahon and OMNI