With just five days left in the 2017 provincial election campaign, a new public opinion poll from the Angus Reid Institute finds the governing BC Liberals and the opposition New Democratic Party locked in a tight race, with the Greens of BC adding pressure on, and potentially taking avenues away from a New Democrat victory.
Each party has distinct advantages and disadvantages ahead of the May 9 result, with the eventual outcome hinging on a number of factors, including strategic voting, the possibility of complacency among soft Liberal voters, the rate at which different age groups vote, and the geographic distribution of party support around the province.
This comprehensive analysis of the voting landscape considers these factors, as well as British Columbians’ views of key planks in the parties’ platforms, the appeal of the party leaders, and the overall mood of the province after 16 years of BC Liberal government.
Key Findings:
- Both main parties boast their own regional strongholds – the Liberals in the interior, the NDP in the Lower Mainland. Neither party, however, holds a lead across each region of B.C.
- Two-in-three (66 per cent) British Columbians prefer the NDP’s budget strategy of more spending on social programs paid for by tax increases
- The Green Party is polling higher than it has ever performed in a B.C. election, but Green voter support is shakiest compared to that of the other parties
Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/bc-election-campaign-analysis
