Most British Columbians Think Cullen Commission Was Worth It

Seven-in-ten residents believe the province should establish an Office of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, like Quebec.  

Vancouver, BC [November 2, 2021] – A majority of residents of British Columbia believe instituting the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in the province was the correct call, a new Research Co. poll has found.  

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 57% of British Columbians think the provincial government made the right decision in establishing the Cullen Commission.  

More than half of British Columbians (53%) believe we have learned more about why money laundering became a problem in British Columbia due to the Cullen Commission, and a slightly smaller proportion (49%) think have learned more about what to do in the future to curb money laundering in the province.  

The provincial government announced its intention to establish the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia in May 2019. The Cullen Commission’s hearings ended in September 2021. A final report is expected to be released in December 2021.  

Just under two-in-five British Columbians (39%) followed the developments of the Cullen Commission “very closely” or “moderately closely”, including 43% of men and 41% of Metro Vancouverites.  

“The activities of the Cullen Commission were not followed intently by a majority of British Columbians,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Still, fewer than one-in-ten of the province’s residents disagree with its establishment.”  

Almost two-in-five British Columbians (39%) believe the previous government headed by the BC Liberals deserves “all of the blame” or “most of the blame” for the current situation related to money laundering in the province, unchanged since a Research Co. poll conducted in August 2018.  

Fewer British Columbians point the finger at other entities for the current situation related to money laundering, including the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) (36%, -12), the current federal government headed by the Liberal Party (20%), the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) (19%), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) (17%, -4) and the current provincial government headed by the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) (also 17%, -6).  

The Province of Quebec has established the Office of Anti-Corruption Commissioner “to ensure the coordination of actions to prevent and fight corruption in the public sector, including in contractual matters.”  

More than seven-in-ten British Columbians (71%) believe their province should establish an office similar to the one that is currently in place in Quebec. Sizeable majorities of residents who voted for the BC Green Party (85%), the BC NDP (78%) and the BC Liberals (75%) in the 2020 provincial election favour this course of action.