BC Conservatives ‘virtually tied’ with BC NDP in latest poll

A new poll suggests the BC Conservatives have effectively closed the gap on the BC NDP’s lead ahead of the next provincial election.

That’s according to a sample of 801 British Columbians polled by Research Co., of whom 41 per cent said they would support David Eby’s governing New Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, support for the John-Rustad-led BC Conservative Party has jumped from a reported 33 per cent last week to 38 per cent.

“The race has tightened considerably in southern B.C., where the BC NDP and the BC Conservatives are virtually tied” said Research Co. President Mario Canseco. “In June, the BC New Democrats were 11 points ahead of the BC Conservatives in this region of British Columbia.”

Political analyst and cohost of the PolitiCoast Podcast Ian Bushfield tells 1130 NewsRadio that support for the BC Conservatives has likely become as strong as it will before the election.

“They’ve definitely reached probably as much support as they can get off [BC] United, although I think there’s still nine or 10 points of movement that could happen there. I would still give the advantage to the [BC] NDP, given the vote-rich areas of Metro Vancouver and the Island favor the government,” said Bushfield.

The BC Green Party remains in third place, down five points to 10 per cent of the polled voters, followed closely by the official opposition party, BC United, holding nine per cent.

Research Co.’s last poll was the first in which the BC Greens overtook BC United. Voters were polled between July 23 and July 25, before another longstanding BC United party MLA, Teresa Wat, defected to join the BC Conservatives Monday.

Research Co. says all four major party leaders have dipped in the polls. Eby’s approval rating is down to 48 per cent; Rustad’s is down to 39 per cent; BC Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau is down to 35 per cent; and BC United Leader Kevin Falcon is down to 29 per cent.

The B.C. election is scheduled for Oct. 19.