British Columbians want to see NDP-Green coalition, according to poll

May 27 2017, 4:12 am

With the BC Liberal Party set to govern with a minority government, British Columbians would like to see an NDP-Green coalition, a new Insights West poll has found.

And, if Christy Clark’s Liberal Part cannot form government, 65% of those polled believe she should step down as the party’s leader.

“The composition of the next government remains contentious, which is expected after the election essentially ended in a tie,” says Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs, at Insights West.

“However, the voters who gave the BC Green Party its best showing in a provincial election are more likely to support collaboration with the BC New Democrats than with the BC Liberals.”

Those polled were also asked about six different scenarios for the next provincial government. Almost half say they would be “happy” with a BC NDP majority (48%), a BC NDP minority with leader John Horgan as Premier (also 48%) and a BC Liberal minority without leader Christy Clark as Premier (also 48%).

Fewer than two-in-five residents would be “happy” if the BC NDP formed a minority government without Horgan as Premier (39%), if the BC Liberals formed a minority government with Clark as Premier (38%) or with a BC Liberal majority mandate (37%).

A change to the vote schedule and process?

British Columbians are not enthused about holding a new election anytime soon, though.

In fact, 43% of those polled think the next provincial ballot should happen, as scheduled, in May 2021, while only 26% would favour voting sometime in the next couple of years.

More than half of the respondents said they are satisfied with the first-past-the-post system used to elect members of the Legislative Assembl;, while 39% are dissatisfied, including 58% of those who voted for the Greens and 57% of those who voted for the New Democrats.

Finally, 63% of respondents think a change in the current system should be put to a province-wide referendum, while only 28% disagree with this course of action.

The poll was conducted online by Insights west, from May 22 to May 25, among 803 British Columbians.

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