BC NDP, BC Conservatives in close race ahead of election campaign period: poll

Mere days away from the start of the provincial election campaign, a new poll shows the BC NDP and BC Conservatives are still neck and neck.

Results from a survey by Research Co. show that 44 per cent of voters polled are throwing their weight behind the NDP — but the BC Conservatives are just two points behind, with 42 per cent.

Company president Mario Canseco tells 1130 NewsRadio that Conservative leader John Rustad has an opportunity to capitalize on the fall of BC United — even if it hasn’t happened so far.

“Right now, what we’re seeing is a lot of people who maybe are dissatisfied with the way the NDP has been governing, but haven’t seen enough to make that emotional connection with the Conservatives yet,” he said.

He says a theory that BC United’s collapse last month would push all its voters towards the BC Conservatives hasn’t necessarily panned out at this point.

“We do have an increase for the Conservatives of four points compared to July, but there’s also an increase of three points for the NDP compared to July. So, people are making their own decisions based on the candidates and also in the way they feel about the political parties.”

Canseco says independent candidates are also seeing momentum in the poll — especially in northern B.C., where two popular incumbent candidates — previously with BC United — are running under their own banners.

“To have already 16 per cent of people in Northern BC considering independents certainly suggests that there might be a pool, particularly for the two incumbents from the from BC United in the Peace River that could actually do something to lower the level of support for the Conservatives,” said Canseco.

He says that indicates that people are starting to be open to the idea of voting for candidates they like, regardless of their party.

“Over the next few weeks, it will be crucial to see how some of these incumbents start to fair.”

More than a third of British Columbians — 36 per cent — told the poll they think Eby would make the best premier among the three major party leaders. While 27 per cent selected Rustad and 12 per cent picked BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau. Twenty-five per cent were undecided on the question.