The failed transit funding plebiscite, the freedom of information scandal and ongoing delays on the LNG file have chipped away at the BC Liberals’ job performance rating; meanwhile, BC NDP leader John Horgan is still struggling for name recognition.
Business in Vancouver and Insights West’s latest six-month B.C. government report card shows a public dissatisfied with the current government, but still not sold on the Opposition.
“You still see John Horgan doing better, but still about a third of people who don’t know enough about him to make up their minds,” said Mario Canseco, vice-president of public affairs at Insights West.
Six months ago, survey respondents picked health care as their top issue. This time around it’s the economy and jobs. Health care and housing, poverty and homelessness tied for the second-most important issues.
As to how well the BC Liberals have done handling specific issues, respondents rated recent changes to liberalize alcohol laws the highest, at 42%. But no other issue was supported by more than a third of residents, including LNG (33%), relations with First Nations (31%), managing BC Hydro (30%) and dealing with the Northern Gateway pipeline (27%).
The number of British Columbians who think the government is doing a poor job on the LNG file has risen to 47% from 35% in December 2013. As home prices in Metro Vancouver continue to rise beyond what local incomes can support, 70% of respondents said the government had done a bad or very bad job on handling issues of foreign ownership of housing. Following the unsuccessful transit funding plebiscite this June, 77% think the government is doing a poor job managing TransLink.
While Christy Clark’s approval rating has dropped to 29%, Canseco said she’s still very much in the game.
With the election still a year and a half away, the challenge for the BC NDP will be to hitch a ride on the desire for change that carried Rachel Notley’s Alberta NDP and Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberals to victory.
“The real challenge as well will be for the NDP to become that agent of change because of the difficulties they’ve had over the past few elections,” Canseco said. “Can you find a way for the average voter to look at Horgan as the vehicle for that change?”
