A new survey reveals what B.C. residents are most concerned about ahead of the next provincial election and a big shift in politics this spring.
New findings from ResearchCo highlight who B.C. residents are favouring for leadership of the Conservative Party, and what issues are most pressing for voters.
The Conservative Party will be deciding their next leader on May 30, which could trigger lots of changes in the province’s political landscape.
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The ResearchCo survey revealed that none of the five candidates who are vying for the Conservative Party leadership would award the party a significant advantage over the BC NDP.
The five candidates who are in the running to be the next Conservative Party leader are Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Peter Milobar, Yuri Fulmer, and Iain Black.
Of the five candidates, in the online survey of a representative provincial sample, Elliott is seeing the highest favourability rating with 19 per cent, which is up six points since a poll ResearchCo conducted in February. Findlay is second with 18 per cent, Milobar follows with 17 per cent, Fulmer is at 15 per cent, and Black is in last with 14 per cent.
Interestingly, the previous leader who was removed and later resigned, John Rustad, has a higher favourability rating.
ResearchCo says that in head-to-head contests against the NDP, Elliott has the Conservatives two points ahead (23 per cent to 21 per cent).
Our party is debt-free and ahead of schedule. Help us grow a war chest to defeat the BC NDP!
Click here: https://t.co/oyRkqPndyK pic.twitter.com/eNGajfB9OX
— Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC) April 28, 2026
Of course, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), a major conversation in B.C. politics, was also a consideration that ResearchCo asked respondents about. ResearchCo said that fewer British Columbians want the BC Conservatives to focus on repealing DRIPA, a sentiment that 40 per cent of respondents shared.
On Friday’s debate stage, there was a lot of discussion about DRIPA – but the real question is: what comes after repealing DRIPA?
That’s where leadership matters.
I laid out a clear path forward and shared my Five-Point Premier’s Plan with the people of British Columbia.
Job… pic.twitter.com/CpNGqmtMmK
— Iain Black (@iainblackbc) April 29, 2026
What issues B.C. voters care the most about
David Eby (Government of B.C.)
Respondents were asked what they thought the most important issues facing the province were. A total of 30 per cent of B.C. residents mentioned housing, homelessness, and poverty; 26 per cent mentioned the economy and jobs; 23 per cent mentioned health care; and a lower seven per cent named crime and public safety.
Over three in five respondents would like to see the Official Opposition get the government to invest more money into health care, foster economic growth in all areas of the province, and develop a housing policy that rivals what the current leadership is doing, and to get more pipelines built and more energy products removed.
“Fewer British Columbians want the BC Conservatives to focus on banning transgender women from taking part in women’s sports leagues competitions,” ResearchCo said.
The next leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia will be announced on May 30, 2026. While the next provincial election isn’t officially scheduled to happen until 2028, several factors could change that. B.C. Premier David Eby could call an election after the Conservatives choose their next leader.
Eby has also seen a major drop in popularity over the last several months, so there’s also the chance of a confidence vote that would trigger a snap election.
ResearchCo collected its results earlier this month.