WATCH: Another day, another poll.
The latest Angus Reid poll indicates the provincial election campaign is, again, too close to call.
But what is different is how Vancouver Island voters feel about themselves, and the economy compared to the rest of B.C.
Mary Griffin explains.
“Hello, how are you?”
BC Liberal Leader Christy Clark picks out retired Liberal MLA Jack Weisgerber in a crowd of supporters.
“Jack, how are you?
Glad to see you.”
This is her first of three stops on Vancouver Island, her third visit to the island this campaign.
The attention to the island is over votes.
The latest poll from Angus Reid shows a pitched battle.
Asked, who would you vote for May 9th; provincially 29 percent chose the Liberals.
The NDP ahead with 31 percent, and the Greens at 15 percent.
But on Vancouver Island, the Greens show a surge to 22 percent.
UVic political scientist Dr. Michael Prince says the poll indicates a move by the electorate.
“I think the numbers show an underlying mood for change. Sort of a dissatisfaction with people’s lots in life. They don’t feel better off than four years ago.”
Shachi Kurl is the executive director with the Angus Reid Institute.
She says the polling suggests large numbers of British Columbians aged 18 to 34 are finding making ends meet more difficult.
“But these pressures are spreading across the province. So if those people show up and vote NDP, by May 9th, again, a huge advantage for this party. And it looks like it could really be poised to form the next government.”
Campaigning today in the Lower Mainland, NDP Leader John Horgan focused on affordability.
“While our costs are going up, our services are eroding. Schools, hospitals, are not being attended to. The services people count on are not there for them. We can’t afford four more years of Christy Clark.”
The Angus Reid On the question, “Are you better or worse off than at election time four years ago?”
Provincially 19 % of respondents say they are better, 49 % the same, and 32 % worse.
On Vancouver Island, 24 percent feel they are better off, 38 % the same, and 38 % are worse off.
Prince says the polls may be indicating a significant change.
“We could be in with a shock or two with these polls. If they are wrong, this is where I think they might be wrong; that we’ve under-estimated the Green surge. And that we are seeing a soft collapse of the Liberal support.”
There are just five days to go until it’s all decided at the ballot box.
Mary Griffin
