Vancouverites love city, unsure about mayor and council: CityNews poll

B.C.’s provincial election is just weeks away, but how do you feel about municipal government?

A poll conducted for CityNews by Maru Public Opinion asked Vancouverites what they think about the city and how it’s run, and nearly 70 per cent of residents polled think Mayor Ken Sim and city council don’t understand what residents want or need. 

Twenty-six per cent of respondents strongly agreed with that statement.

But residents are split on Sim’s performance. A little over half of the city’s residents say they wouldn’t want Sim to have another term in office, and another quarter are unsure.

The poll also looked at how people view the city where they live, and apparently residents are proud to be in Vancouver. Sixty-three per cent agreed that Vancouver is a “world-class” city. Fifty-nine per cent said it’s a good place to raise a family, and 69 per cent agreed Vancouver people are friendly.

Respondents were not happy about access to health-care, with 64 per cent agreeing it takes too long to be treated at a hospital emergency ward.

Vancouver was the highest for civic pride, coming ahead of Edmonton, Toronto, and Calgary, respectively.

According to the poll, the top issues for Vancouver residents boiled down to affordability, rent and home ownership, healthcare, homelessness, crime and policing.

Vancouver’s next municipal election is scheduled for 2026.

—With files from Cole Schisler