Two thirds want all expenses related to the Legislative Assembly to be available for public scrutiny in a searchable website.
Vancouver, BC [January 28, 2019] – The release of a report from Speaker Darryl Plecas has prompted British Columbians to call for changes in the Legislative Assembly, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, three-in-four British Columbians (74%) agree with ensuring that all questionable spending outlined in the Plecas Report is re-paid, and seven-in-ten (70%) would subject the Legislative Assembly to public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA).
Two thirds of British Columbians (68%) would make all expenses from every person who works for the Legislative Assembly available for public scrutiny in a searchable website, and three-in-five (59%) would establish an outside entity to review and oversee all future expenses related to the Legislative Assembly.
The Plecas Report—released on January 21—looks into allegations of misconduct by senior officers of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. More than three-in-five residents of the province (63%) say they have followed the Plecas Report “very closely” or “moderately closely.”
Across the province, 57% of British Columbians agree with the way the Speaker acted, while 21% disagree and 22% are not sure.
Majorities of voters who supported the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) (61%), the BC Green Party (60%) and the BC Liberals (55%) in the 2017 provincial election agree with the way Plecas chose to act.
When asked who is more responsible for the situation uncovered by the Plecas Report, 59% of British Columbians point the finger at the previous BC Liberal government, while 29% blame the current BC NDP government.
“Voters from the three main provincial parties are in agreement about specific changes they would like to see in light of the issues addressed in the Plecas Report,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “But when it comes to laying blame, there is an evident polarization, with most NDP and Green voters blaming the previous administration and most BC Liberal voters saying the current one is more responsible.”
Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted from January 25 to January 27, 2019, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our full data set here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca