Although the federal New Democratic Party is still the top choice for B.C. voters in next month’s federal election, support for the party has fallen over the past month and the federal Conservative Party has gained ground.
The results of an Insights West poll released September 23 show that if a federal election were held today, 34% of decided voters would vote NDP. This is down seven percentage points compared with last month’s poll, in which 41% said they would choose the party.
The Conservative Party gained six percentage points, increasing from 22% last month to 28%.
“The Conservatives have definitely improved their standing in British Columbia, and their voters remain extremely committed,” said Insights West vice-president of public affairs Mario Canseco. “The New Democrats are also attracting a large proportion of voters who are unlikely to change their mind.”
Poll respondents said the economy was their top concern in the upcoming election (39%, up six percentage points since last poll), followed by government accountability (16%, down three percentage points), health care (11%, down one percentage point) and housing, poverty and homelessness (11%, up one percentage point).
NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has the highest approval rating at 60%, up five percentage points since August. Green Party leader Elizabeth May comes in second at 53% (up one percentage point), followed by Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau (51%, no change). Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in last place at 32%, up four percentage points.
However, Harper was seen to be the best money manager at 27%, followed closely by Mulcair at 26% and Trudeau with 25%. This contrasts with an Angus Reid poll released September 14 that found Mulcair was Canadians’ top pick for managing money. On the same day, however, the federal government announced it had posted a $1.9 billion surplus for fiscal 2014-15, which may have since affected voters’ opinions in this category.
The top choice for women remains the NDP, with 39% of all women choosing this party. On the other hand, men say they are most likely to vote Conservative (33%).
More than a third of all respondents – 35% – say they could change their mind by election time. This is down seven percentage points compared with last month’s poll.
