New polls out Monday says health care is now the top issue in the BC election as the slim margin between love and hate define voter motivation and emerging regional battles in the BC election campaign picture which concludes this Saturday. Polling firm Angus Reid says health care now identified as top issue among voters which could possibly re-frame ballot question. Pollster said with hundreds of thousands of voters having already locked in their intentions at advanced polls, the days left for B.C.’s main political parties to not only persuade but pull the province’s remaining electorate out to vote are dwindling. While overall provincial vote intention shows a five-point lead for the BC NDP (45%) over the BC Conservatives (40%), a closer look reveals what amounts to a statistical tie in communities north-east of Vancouver, constituencies that were once right-leaning strongholds, but flipped NDP in 2020. The incumbents have been in a fight to hold on here, while the BC Conservatives have been looking to pick up where the now-defunct BC Liberals left off.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER – New polls out Monday says health care is now the top issue in the BC election as the slim margin between love and hate define voter motivation and emerging regional battles in the BC election campaign picture which concludes this Saturday.

Polling firm Angus Reid says health care now identified as top issue among voters which could possibly re-frame ballot question.

Pollster said with hundreds of thousands of voters having already locked in their intentions at advanced polls, the days left for B.C.’s main political parties to not only persuade but pull the province’s remaining electorate out to vote are dwindling.

He poll by non-profit Angus Reid Institute reveals a more complete picture of how the campaign is developing.

The Institute polled 2,863 British Columbians in the five days after the televised leaders debate Oct. 8 with a focus on key vote-rich battlegrounds in and around Metro Vancouver.

While overall provincial vote intention shows a five-point lead for the BC NDP (45%) over the BC Conservatives (40%), a closer look reveals what amounts to a statistical tie in communities north-east of Vancouver, constituencies that were once right-leaning strongholds, but flipped NDP in 2020. 

The incumbents have been in a fight to hold on here, while the BC Conservatives have been looking to pick up where the now-defunct BC Liberals left off.

In less assuring news for the provincial Conservatives, the party appears to have lost crucial momentum in districts south of the Fraser River, notably Richmond, Surrey and Delta. This has come in the wake of public comments condemned by rivals from two Metro Vancouver Conservative candidates, who were kept in the race by leader John Rustad.

That said, the NDP’s advantage is not necessarily predicated by strong enthusiasm for the party that has been in power seven years. Against the backdrop of increasing voter frustration on key files such as cost of living, the addictions crisis, public safety and health care, fully half of New Democrat supporters say they are backing the party because they “really dislike” the other options available to them.See Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/