PROVINCIAL PULSE – NDP enjoys comfortable lead despite criticism

By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

December 12, 2022 – Less than a month into his term as premier, David Eby has the opportunity for a fresh start with a new-look cabinet and a relatively favourable electorate, but faces immense challenges heading into 2023.

A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds British Columbians critical of the government on the most important issues facing the province.

B.C. residents rank cost of living and inflation, health care, and housing affordability as their top issues, and at least seven-in-ten say the BC NDP is doing a poor job handling each.

The government performs most favourably on issues that are much lower in the public hierarchy of priorities, including COVID-19 management and the relationship between the provincial and federal governments.

In his first days as premier, Eby announced a 100-day plan to address housing affordability with three new policy changes (and one notable absence). British Columbians are largely optimistic about the impact of legalizing secondary suites, removing rental restrictions on condos and apartments, and pushing fast-growing municipalities to create building targets.

In each case, residents are much more inclined to say each policy will be effective than ineffective at addressing housing supply and affordability. Many say the same of a proposed tax on home flipping, which was announced as a part of Eby’s plans in September but not ultimately included in the Bill which was passed in late November.

As this fledgling iteration of the BCNDP government heads into a new year, it does so with a comfortable advantage in vote intention. Nearly half (47%) say they would vote for the incumbent government if an election were held, compared to one-in-three (32%) who would support the newly named BC United Party (formerly the BC Liberals, official name change to take place in 2023).

More Key Findings:

• Eby’s 46 per cent approval stands in contrast to BC United leader Kevin Falcon’s favourability rating of 22 per cent. Both are unknown to approximately three-in-ten residents.

• More than half (54%) of Metro Vancouver residents say they would vote for the BCNDP if an election were held. This is also where Eby receives his highest levels of approval at 57 per cent.

• The transition from BC Liberals to BC United appears unlikely to entice voters to consider the party if they had not already done so. Four per cent of past BCNDP voters and zero past Green Party voters say they will be more likely to consider the party in the next election with this change in place.

Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/