David Carrigg - Yesterday
Close to 70 per cent of British Columbians are opposed to a costly rebuild of the Royal B.C. Museum and are more concerned with inflation, health care and housing affordability, according to polling data being released by the Angus Reid Institute on Thursday.
© Provided by Vancouver SunB.C. Premier John Horgan speaks during a media scrum at the Hotel Saskatchewan on Friday, May 27, 2022 in Regina.
The poll showed 42 per cent of the 615 adults questioned were “strongly” opposed to the $800-million project, while 27 per cent were simply opposed.
The survey found four per cent of people “strongly” support the project, while 18 per cent supported it — for a total of 22 per cent.
Eight per cent of respondents had no opinion.
“If there was ever a museum of political gaffes built in British Columbia, the rollout of the Royal B.C. Museum’s rebuild could occupy a gallery of its own,” Angus Reid president Shachi Kurl wrote.
The B.C. government announced in early May that it would rebuild the 54-year-old Royal B.C. Museum, without presenting a business plan.
While the government expected the news to be received well, the opposite occurred, and two weeks later Tourism Minister Melanie Mark presented a heavily redacted business plan.
The B.C. Liberals have already promised to cancel the project if they are elected in 2024, with leader Kevin Falcon dubbing it a “vanity project boondoggle.”
“The backlash comes as the NDP government under John Horgan faces other political headwinds from inflation and cost of living increases,” Kurl wrote.
The poll found 70 per cent of respondents thought the B.C. government was performing poorly in its handling of inflation, health care staffing and housing affordability.
Horgan’s approval has dropped seven percentage points over the past three months to 48 per cent, but the B.C. NDP still hold an 11-per-cent lead over their rival B.C. Liberals. The B.C. Green party has 15 per cent support.
Newly anointed Liberal leader Falcon is viewed favourably by 23 per cent of British Columbians and unfavourably by 44 per cent.
Rising costs of living was the most important concern to 61 per cent of respondents, while fewer than seven per cent were concerned with the government’s response to COVID-19.
dcarrigg@postmedia.com
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