British Columbians approve of some of the governing NDP’s policies on housing-related issues but not others, and overall opinions are mixed about how they are doing, according to the results of a new Angus Reid survey released May 9, exactly one year after the provincial election.
Overall, Premier John Horgan has the approval of 47% of all those surveyed, compared with 34% for BC Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver and 26% for Andrew Wilkinson, leader of the BC Liberals.
All images: Angus Reid
The most pressing issue in the province today, according to poll respondents, was housing prices and affordability.
According to the survey, 75% said they approve of the NDP’s increase of the foreign-buyer tax from 15% to 20%. The same percentage said they approve of the new speculation tax aimed at those who don’t pay taxes in B.C.
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All images: Angus Reid
Two-thirds of all respondents said they approve of the increase in the property transfer tax on homes valued at more than $3 million, and 68% said they agree with a proposed increase in the school tax on those homes.
Despite these positive results, overall, almost half of all respondents (49%) said they don’t approve of the government’s handling of housing and affordability issues, compared with 35% who said they do.
All images: Angus Reid
In second place among B.C. residents’ top concerns were pipelines, tankers and Kinder Morgan.
More than half of all those surveyed – 53% – said they don’t approve of the Horgan government’s handling of the Trans Mountain expansion project, compared with 36% who do. Support was highest in the City of Vancouver (52%) and lowest in areas outside of Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island (28%).
All images: Angus Reid
If a vote were held today, 41% of respondents said they would vote NDP, compared with 36% for the BC Liberal Party and 17% for the BC Greens. The BC NDP Party saw its biggest support in the City of Vancouver (55%).
All images: Angus Reid
Check out the full survey here.
@EmmaHampelBIV
