(04/21/11) -

Conservatives Ahead of Federal Rivals in British Columbia

Support for the New Democratic Party (NDP) has increased across the province since the last federal election.

The Conservative Party is the most popular federal force in British Columbia, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample of 806 British Columbians, 42 per cent of decided voters and leaners would vote for the Conservative candidate in their riding in the May 2 federal election.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is second with 32 per cent, followed by the Liberal Party with 18 per cent, and the Green Party with six per cent.

The Tories are particularly popular in Vancouver Island (50%) and the Interior (49%). In the 2008 election, the Conservatives won three of the six seats in Vancouver Island.

The Liberals get their best showing in Metro Vancouver at 26 per cent. In the City of Vancouver, Liberal MPs are seeking re-election in three of the five seats at stake.

The NDP is strongest in the North (44%). In Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, at least three-in-ten voters will support the NDP candidate in their federal riding.

Analysis

Both the Conservatives and the Liberals are very close to the election total they had in the 2008 election. The biggest jump in support across the province is for the NDP, which is six points ahead of its result in the last federal ballot. The Greens, even with leader Elizabeth May running in Saanich—Gulf Islands, have lost one third of their 2008 voters.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From April 19 to April 20, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 806 randomly selected British Columbia adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.5%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of British Columbia. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Mario Canseco discusses the findings with CTV.