British Columbians who disapprove of Premier David Eby’s NDP government’s handling of most key issues outweigh those who approve.
According to a Leger survey released Monday, more B.C. residents were dissatisfied with the current provincial government’s handling of key issues than otherwise, often flipping the reported support from four years prior.
The study asked over a thousand British Columbians their thoughts on the current government’s handling of key issues and compared it to Leger’s other surveys on the same topic since June 2020.
When asked if residents approved of the government’s handling of the opioid, drug overdose and drug poisoning crisis, 63% disapproved of Eby’s policies, while 18% approved.
When compared to responses received to the same question in 2020 under former premier John Horgans’ NDP government, 42% disapproved, with a third reporting satisfaction with the government’s handling of the same issues.
In 2020, 41% approved of the government’s handling of crime levels and general safety, and 29% disapproved. However, in 2024, 56% reported disapproval of the current government’s handling of crime and safety issues, with only 27% approving.
Disapproval ratings increased on the government’s response to poverty, homelessness and housing as well.
More than 60% of British Columbians disapprove of the government’s approach on each of those issues, and less than 20% report approval of Eby’s handling of each category.
More B.C. residents now disapprove of the current NDP government’s oversight of the economy than approve. From 50% approving of Horgan’s NDP government’s economic oversight in 2020 and 31% disapproving to nearly half of British Columbians expressing disapproval in 2024 and 32% saying they approved.
Eby’s office did not respond to True North’s request for comment.
“British Columbians are ready for common sense change. This radical NDP government has been in power since 2017, and since then, just about everything has gotten worse,” Angelo Isidorou, the campaign director for the Conservative Party of B.C. told True North in an email. “Under the Eby-Trudeau Carbon Tax, everyday life has become unaffordable. Meanwhile, the NDP continues to push radical policies like the decriminalization of hard drugs and the myth of a so-called “safe” supply. What we see is more addiction, overdoses and misery,” he said.
In a handful of the 26 key issues B.C. residents were asked about, more B.C. residents reported approval than disapproval.
51% of respondents approved of the provincial government’s response to wildfires, while 29% disapproved.
Other key issues that B.C. residents approved of the current government more than otherwise were the government’s actions towards reconciliation with Indigenous and First Nations people and its tackling of “systemic racism.”
According to the survey, the B.C. Conservatives still have a ways to go if they want to form government in the upcoming October election.
Less than a third of those surveyed, 31%, agreed that Eby’s government has poorly governed the province and that either BC United or the Conservatives should be elected in the upcoming election.
Less than that, 27% believed the NDP had done well in governing and should be elected again. However, among those surveyed, 17% felt that the current government has done poorly but is still the best shot for the province.
If those who said “I don’t know” when asked were removed from the equation, 41% of British Columbians think that the current NDP government has got to go. 36% think they did a good job and ought to be re-elected, and 23% say they’ve been bad at governing but are still the province’s best choice.
