2 in 3 British Columbians against early election: new poll | CBC News

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New poll shows the NDP's early election gamble may have backfired — at least to start

David Eby's early election gamble may have reversed the B.C. NDP’s fortunes, at least according to one opinion poll.

New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows the B.C. Conservatives, led by Lorne Doerkson, holding 43 per cent support among respondents — an eight-point lead over the NDP's 35 per cent.It’s a change from the four point lead the governing New Democrats had over the Official Opposition before Kerry Lynne Findlay resigned last week.

"There’s a lot of unhappiness with this government and now there’s some, 'How dare you go to the polls,'" said Shachi Kurl, Angus Reid Institute president.

Two-thirds of those polled — including half of the NDP voters — say Eby is putting his own interests ahead of the interests of British Columbians.

Will Eby's early election gamble pay off or backfire in B.C.? Here's what history tells us

Katrina Chen, a former NDP cabinet minister who was on Eby’s leadership team in 2022, says Eby’s decision to call a snap election is "risky."He "still has lot of work to do" to prove to British Columbians that his government’s policies are putting people first, Chen said.

"People are really watching and waiting to see how Eby is going to prove himself that he is investing in people, which is good for our economy. It's not just focusing on the trade war alone," she said.

A lot has happened since the B.C. snap election was called. Here's a quick rundown

This week, four NDP cabinet ministers announced they’re not seeking re-election. They include: Ravi Kahlon, who has been in charge of the housing, jobs and health portfolios and has long been considered a B.C. NDP leadership contender; Brenda Bailey, who stepped back as finance minister after a cancer diagnosis this summer; Lana Popham, a five-term MLA who has served as agriculture minister; and Kelly Greene, who served as the emergency management minister.

Greene has been critical of the NDP government’s decision to give the green light to the expansion of the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta.

Chen says the loss of those MLAs is "definitely going to make an impact."

Dive deeper

New poll shows the NDP's early election gamble may have backfired — at least to start
David Eby's early election gamble may have reversed the B.C. NDP’s fortunes, at least according to one opinion poll.
New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows the B.C. Conservatives, led by Lorne Doerkson, holding 43 per cent support among respondents — an eight-point lead over the NDP's 35 per cent.It’s a change from the four point lead the governing
"There’s a lot of unhappiness with this government and now there’s some, 'How dare you go to the polls,'" said Shachi Kurl, Angus Reid Institute president.
Two-thirds of those polled — including half of the NDP voters — say Eby is putting his own interests ahead of the interests of British Columbians.

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