BC Liberals Going Too Far - Too Fast

Vancouver, BC - A new Ipsos-Reid/Global BC/Vancouver Sun survey (conducted prior to the Throne Speech and Premier Campbell's 30 minute television address) reveals a substantial level of public concern with recent actions taken by the BC government. A majority (55%) of British Columbians believe the provincial government is going too far and too fast with its actions, and unnecessarily hurting too many people. On a more specific issue, a similar proportion (56%) of BC residents disapproves of the provincial government rewriting existing contracts with some health care and social service workers. Furthermore, one-half (47%) of British Columbians say their trust in the government to live up to its promises has decreased since the Liberals were elected in May 2001.

"At this point, the government's opponents are scoring some points in the messaging battle," says Daniel Savas, Senior Vice President in Ipsos-Reid's Vancouver office. "And Gordon Campbell seems to understand this, which is exactly why he went directly to the people on Wednesday night to tell them his government's actions are difficult, but necessary." Despite these concerns among the overall population, the provincial government performs much better with one of their most important audiences - those who voted BC Liberal in the last election. Only one in four (27%) BC Liberal voters say the government is going too far - too fast and a similar proportion (24%) say their level of trust in the government has declined. "We should not forget that when the government speaks, it's trying to reassure its supporters as much as, or more than, address the attacks of its opponents," comments Mr. Savas.

These are the findings of a BC Ipsos-Reid poll conducted between February 4th and 11th, 2002 among a representative cross-section of 800 British Columbian adults. These data are statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual BC population according to 1996 Census data. With a provincial sample of 800, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within 1773.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult BC population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

Majority (55%) Thinks BC Government Going Too Far - Too Fast

British Columbians appear to have heard the comments of critics who say that the provincial government is going too far and too fast with its actions. A majority (55%) share the opinion of those who think "the provincial government is going too far and too fast with its actions and unnecessarily hurting too many people". In contrast, 45 percent of BC residents side more with the opinion that "provincial government actions are difficult, but are necessary to deal with the realities of BC's financial situation".

• Demographic groups more likely to think the government is going too far and too fast include women (61% vs. 48% men), union households (68% vs. 48% non-union) and lower/middle income households (61%

  While the BC public as a whole believes that the government is moving too fast, the BC Liberals appear to have effectively delivered the message that these actions are necessary to one of their most important audiences - BC Liberal voters. Fully seven in ten (73%) BC Liberal voters from the 2001 election believe that the government's actions are difficult but necessary to deal with BC's financial situation. At this point, only three in ten (27%) BC Liberal voters believe the government is going too far and too fast.

  Majority (56%) Disapproves of Rewriting Existing Contracts

  The BC public also generally disapproves of one specific action taken by the BC Liberals to control and reduce spending. A majority (56%) of BC residents say they disapprove of the provincial government "rewriting existing contracts with some health care and social services workers". Fully four in ten (41%) residents "strongly disapprove" and 16 percent "moderately disapprove" with this action. Four in ten (41%) British Columbians approve of the provincial government action to rewrite these existing contracts, including 17 percent who "strongly approve" and 24 percent who "moderately approve".

  • Not surprisingly, approval of rewriting these contracts is much higher with non-union households (51%) than with union households (23%).
  • BC Liberal voters are more likely to approve (58%) than disapprove (42%) of rewriting contracts with some health care and social services workers.

  Half (47%) Less Trusting Of Provincial Government

  One in two (47%) BC residents say their trust in the provincial government to live up to its promises has decreased since the BC Liberals were elected in May 2001. One in three (34%) say their trust in the government has "decreased a lot" while 13 percent say it has "decreased a little".

  In contrast, only 13 percent of British Columbians say their trust in the provincial government has increased (7% a lot, 7% a little) since the BC Liberals were elected. Four in ten BC residents (39%) say their level of trust has "stayed about the same".

  • Union households are much more likely than non-union households to have a decreased level of trust in the provincial government (61% vs. 39%).
  • Other groups more likely to have a decreased level of trust include women (52% vs. 41% men) and lower/middle income households (52%

    Among those who voted for the BC Liberals in May 2001, the result is much more positive. Nearly eight in ten (77%) BC Liberal voters say their trust has increased (23%) or stayed the same (53%) since the election. One in four (24%) BC Liberal voters now say they have a decreased trust in the provincial government to live up to their promises.

    For more information on this news release, please contact:
    Daniel Savas
    Senior Vice President
    Ipsos-Reid
    (604) 257-3200