Voters Call for Action on Economy, Natural Resources, and Opportunities for Younger Generations

Today the BC Chamber of Commerce is releasing the results of its third and final poll in a series designed to underscore voters' expectations for economic leadership from political parties. The survey highlights growing dissatisfaction with BC's economic performance and a strong desire for the province to take advantage of its natural resources to unlock economic potential and create opportunities for younger generations.

“Our final poll shows that a majority of voters feel that BC’s economy is underperforming, and this affects their confidence in the ability to provide for future generations,” said Fiona Famulak, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “British Columbians are not only aware of the deep connection between a strong economy and the public services they rely on, but also feel that the province's current trajectory is jeopardizing both.”

Additional findings from this poll:

• Negative Economic Sentiment: A significant majority (66%) of voters hold a negative view of BC’s economy - using words like concerned (44%), pessimistic (13%), or angry (9%), while 40% believe the BC economy performs worse than Alberta’s.
• Business Climate: 64% of business owners, who are employers, and 51% of non-employer business owners have given ‘a great deal’ or ‘a fair bit’ of thought about leaving the province to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
• Unrealized Potential: While 78% of BC residents agree that BC’s economy holds significant potential, 75% believe the province is falling short of realizing that potential.
• Generational Disparity: Three-quarters of voters (75%) are concerned that younger generations in BC do not have the same economic opportunities as older generations. More than half of respondents also said they do not believe that working people have the chance to get ahead.
• Natural Resources: 74% of respondents believe that better utilizing BC’s natural resources could improve economic prospects for younger generations, and 41% say that natural resource sectors have the potential to make the greatest economic impact on the province’s future.

The poll also underscores the rising concern over housing affordability. Four-in-ten homeowners are paying more than 35% of their after-tax income toward mortgage payments, a proportion of income often used by financial institutions as a mortgage approval test. The situation is even more difficult for renters; six-in-ten are paying more than 35% of their after-tax income in rent. Three in four renters say they rent “because they cannot afford to purchase a home” and 80% of those do not think they will be able to afford to purchase a home in the next three years.

“The inability to afford a home or manage housing costs reflects the deep impacts of an economy that is heading in the wrong direction. Party leaders must prioritize solutions to create more economic opportunities, grow prosperity and offset the strain British Columbians are shouldering,” added Famulak.

The findings from this final poll reinforce the trends revealed in the previous two surveys in August and September:

• From Poll #1: We saw that British Columbians were already concerned about the direction of the province and recognized the critical role that a thriving business environment plays in funding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Only 14% believed the business climate had improved over the last five years.
• From Poll #2: Economic concerns drove further shifts in voter intentions, with voters who planned to move their vote emphasizing the need for tax relief, business investment, and economic expansion—particularly in the natural resource sectors. Over 80% of voters recognized the government’s responsibility to foster a competitive environment for businesses. A large majority also believed that expanding natural gas extraction and agriculture production would create jobs beyond their sectors and improve affordability.
• Now, with Poll #3: We see these concerns coming to a head, with voters increasingly dissatisfied with the province’s economic performance. The call for action is clear: British Columbians want their government to take advantage of the province’s economic potential, particularly in its natural resource sectors, to ensure good opportunities for future generations.

“British Columbians understand that a vibrant economy is the key to maintaining strong public services and securing a prosperous future for all,” said Famulak. “Political parties must recognize that voters are demanding more than short-term solutions—they want to see long-term economic plans that prioritize business investment, resource development, and the prosperity of future generations.”

Full survey results: BC Chamber of Commerce Pre-Election Engagement - Poll 3 Results

Survey Methodology

This third poll was conducted online by Counsel Public Affairs through the Leger Opinion (LEO) Panel which was used in whole or in part for the collection of data, from October 1-7, 2024. The survey engaged 2,009 demographically representative British Columbians aged 18 and older. As with previous surveys, the sample was selected through a double opt-in panel to ensure accurate representation across age, gender, and region, with quotas and post-survey weighting aligned with the most recent census data. Margin of error is not applicable for online surveys; however, if this were a probability-based random sample of the same size, it would be considered accurate to +/- 2% nineteen times out of twenty.