Image: B.C. Conservative Party / B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad is pictured with Chilliwack North candidate Heather Maahs. A new Research Co. poll shows the B.C. Conservatives leading the B.C. NDP in the Fraser Valley and Northern B.C.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

B.C. Conservatives

Latest polling shows B.C. Conservatives now lead the B.C. NDP in the Fraser Valley, Northern B.C.

Jun 25, 2024 | 11:09 AM

CHILLIWACK — A new Research Co. poll shows the B.C. Conservatives leading the B.C. NDP in the Fraser Valley and Northern B.C.

According to a news release from pollster Mario Canseco Tuesday (June 25), the governing B.C. NDP remains ahead of the Conservative Party on a province-wide basis as voters contemplate all their options in this year’s provincial election, only four months away.

In an online survey of a representative provincial sample, 40 per cent of decided voters (a drop of two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2024) would cast a ballot for the governing B.C. New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate in their riding if the election were held today, while 33 per cent (a gain of one point) would support the Conservative Party of B.C. candidate in their riding.

The BC Green Party is third with 15 per cent, a gain of three points since the last Research Co. poll in May 2024. B.C. United continues to struggle as the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly garners only 11 per cent.

“The BC NDP remains ahead of all challengers in Metro Vancouver (41%), Vancouver Island (43%) and Southern BC (44%),” said Mario Canseco, president of Research Co. “The BC Conservatives lead in the Fraser Valley (40%) and Northern BC (53%).”

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Two parties gained momentum in the voter consideration question: the B.C. Conservatives (46%, +4) and the BC Greens (38%, +3). The proportion of British Columbians who would consider supporting the BC NDP remains higher (54%, -1) while just over a third (34%, +1) feel the same way about BC United.

Housing, homelessness and poverty are considered the important issue for 40 per cent of British Columbians, followed by health care as the next highest priority item on the list of pressing concerns with 20% (-1). The economy and jobs came in third at 17 per cent, followed by crime and public safety (8%, +3) and the environment (5%, unchanged).

Canseco says B.C. United’s Kevin Falcon continues to have the lowest approval rating among the four major party leaders (32%, +1). The proportions are higher for B.C. Greens leader Sonia Furstenau (39%, +4), B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad (40%, +3) and Premier and BC NDP leader David Eby (53%, -1).

Eby is also ahead on the “Best Premier” question (28%), followed by Rustad (14%), Falcon (13%) and Furstenau (11%). While more than half of BC NDP voters in the 2020 provincial ballot (54%) choose Eby, only 28% of those who voted for the BC Liberals in the same election select Falcon.

When asked which leader would be best suited to manage specific issues, Eby has significant leads on health care (30%), education (28%), the economy and jobs (26%), child care (also 26%), housing, homelessness and poverty (also 26%), accountability (25%), transportation projects (24%), managing the province’s finances (also 24%), crime and public safety (23%), energy (also 23%), creating jobs (also 23%) and seniors care (22%).

On the environment, Eby and Furstenau are tied with 23% each. Rustad posts his best numbers on crime and public safety (18%) and the economy and jobs (17%).

These polling results are based on an online study conducted from June 17 to June 19, 2024, among 800 adults in British Columbia. Canseco says the data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.