With less than a week to go until B.C.’s provincial election and advance voting underway, a new poll suggests the race between the NDP and Conservatives is tightening. The latest figures from the Angus Reid Institute have the Conservatives at 46 per cent among decided and leaning voters, and the NDP at 43 per cent. Accounting for the three-percentage-point margin of error, David Eby and Lorne Doerkson’s parties are at a statistical tie. The Greens are sitting at eight per cent and three per cent of voters are supporting other parties. Eby is urging Green voters to cast ballots for his party to avoid vote splitting on the left, while Leader Emily Lowan accused him of fearmongering. The poll also found that Conservative voters are more confident in their choice, suggesting the NDP is having more trouble securing support after calling the election. The institute says 73 per cent of Conservative voters are “very certain” in their support, compared to 54 per cent of NDP voters. When it comes to retention, the poll found 89 per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2024 are doing so again, while 74 per cent of previous NDP voters are sticking with that party. “Add to this weaker momentum for B.C. NDP Leader David Eby, even among his own party’s supporters, compared with that of B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson, and a key question emerges: will less-enthusiastic New Democrat supporters turn out to vote, or stay home?” a Monday release from the ARI reads. When it comes to who British Columbians believe would be the best premier, Doerkson has a slight lead at 36 per cent, Eby is at 34 per cent, and 30 per cent said neither of them. Final voting day is Saturday, Oct. 24. According to the ARI, the results come from an online survey conducted between Oct. 15 and 19 among a randomized sample of 739 adults and is weighted to be representative of the population based on the Canadian census. A sample of this size carries a margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
