Poll shows B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson considered best choice for premier

The latest polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows that B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson is considered the best choice for premier and his party holding a narrow lead over the B.C. NDP.

On Monday, Angus Reid President Shachi Kurl said that poll results showed Doerkson held a two-point lead over B.C. NDP leader David Eby, 36 per cent to 34 per cent, as best potential premier. Kurl noted that 30 per cent of respondents did not like either as leader for B.C.

Overall, 46 per cent of decided or leaning voters are behind the B.C. Conservatives, compared to 43 per cent backing the B.C. NDP.

Eight per cent of decided and leaning voters are supporting the B.C. Greens, a slight improvement over the Oct. 5 poll.

Monday’s results are tighter than the five-point difference recorded on Oct. 5 and the eight-point difference recorded on Sept. 24.

Kurl said the B.C. NDP is facing a tougher task than other parties in holding on to their supporters and getting them to vote on Oct. 24.

“Three-quarters of B.C. Conservative voters say they’re very certain in their support, compared to closer to half of B.C. NDP voters,” Kurl said.

“Further, 89 per cent of 2024 Conservatives say they’re supporting the party again, while the proportion of 2024 B.C. NDP voters returning to the fold drops to 74 per cent.”

Kurl said that based on her polling, if an election were held today there would be a statistical tie in popular vote between the two major parties.

“Beyond the headline vote numbers, indications suggest the incumbent New Democrats, who called the election, face a tougher task in securing their support and getting voters to the polls on Oct. 24, amid greater uncertainty and weaker voter retention than their Conservative rivals.

“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,” Kurl said. “Will less enthusiastic New Democrat supporters turn out to vote, or stay home?”

Voting will take place this Saturday, with advance voting permitted until Wednesday at selected locations.

The Angus Reid poll involved 793 respondents and was conducted from Oct. 15-18.

The survey also found 44 per cent of recipients in favour of repealing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

dcarrigg@postmedia.com