BC Conservatives Have Slight Lead Over NDP in First Survey Since BC United Merger

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon listens as BC Conservative Leader John Rustad speaks during a news conference in Vancouver on Aug. 28, 2024. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

The Conservative Party of B.C. has a narrow lead over the B.C. NDP days after BC United suspended its campaign and threw support behind the Conservatives, according to numbers from Angus Reid.

In the first post-merger survey released on Aug. 30, the Conservative Party has 44 percent of voter support while the NDP is at 43 percent. The B.C. Green Party has 10 percent support.

When it comes to leadership, the NDP’s David Eby is seen more favourably at 43 percent, followed by Conservative leader John Rustad at 33 percent.

“However, criticism of Eby has been growing since he first assumed the role of premier in November 2022, while many say they do not know enough to form an opinion of Rustad,” the survey authors said.

The survey also looked at how quickly opinions of the leaders have been changing, with 18 percent saying their opinion of Rustad has improved over recent weeks. Just 9 percent said the same of Eby.

Looking at party loyalty, 68 percent of those who voted for the BC Liberals, which changed its name  BC United in 2023, said they will be voting Conservative this time around. Seventeen percent of decided voters said they would vote NDP, and 8 percent were undecided.

The survey results follow a move by BC United to suspend its campaign and announce it will be removing candidates from the ballot. Leader Kevin Falcon said Aug. 28 the decision was made to avoid vote splitting between the United and Conservative parties.

Candidates for BC United may be picked up by the provincial Conservatives, who said they want to run the strongest people in all ridings.

Election Issues

Some of the issues that voters will need to decide on include housing and opioid addiction, according to Angus Reid.

However, a majority of British Columbians say the province is on the wrong track when it comes to affordable housing (69 percent) and the opioid crisis (68 percent).

Just 16 percent said they feel the province is heading in the right direction when it comes to housing affordability.

Forty-five percent said they’re not happy with the provinces’ ability to make them feel safe where they live. Forty percent responded that they did feel safe. Another 14 percent were undecided.

When it comes to financial security, 49 percent said B.C. was on the wrong track concerning their personal financial situation. Thirty percent said they felt the province was on the right track, and 20 percent were undecided.

Another 60 percent expressed disappointment in the ability to access healthcare. Half of that number (30 percent) said the province is on the right track when it comes to health-care access, and 10 percent were undecided.