British Columbians Divided On Issues Of The Day

Vancouver, BC - Over the past few months, British Columbians have witnessed the opening of a safe injection site in Vancouver and have read about proposed legislation that will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana and sanction same-sex marriages. A new Ipsos-Reid survey shows British Columbians have sharply divided opinions on each of these issues. Slim majorities support the operation of a safe injection site for illegal drug users in the City of Vancouver (56% support, 40% oppose), same-sex couples being allowed to marry and register their marriage with the provincial government (55% support, 40% oppose) and decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana (54% support, 44% oppose).

While total support outnumbers total opposition on each of these issues, strongly held opinions are very evenly divided. Roughly equal proportions of British Columbians "strongly" support and "strongly" oppose each initiative; safe injection site (25% "strongly" support, 26% "strongly" oppose), same-sex marriage (32% "strongly" support, 31% "strongly" oppose), marijuana decriminalization (28% "strongly" support, 28% "strongly" oppose).

The survey also shows a greater openness to change among City of Vancouver residents. They are more likely than other British Columbians to support a safe injection site (66%), same-sex marriage (70%) and decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana (69%).

"British Columbians don't speak with a single voice on these issues. If politicians and other leaders want to take a stance on these issues, they should recognize that it will put them at odds with a significant portion of the public", comments Ipsos-Reid Vice-President Kyle Braid. "Nevertheless, these aren't issues that are going to make or break a political career. They are all fairly low on the public agenda - well below improving the economy, health care and education."

These are the findings of a BC Ipsos-Reid poll conducted between October 7th and 14th, 2003 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 2001 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 population sub-groups.

Safe Injection Site (56% Support, 40% Oppose)

Nearly six-in-ten (56%) British Columbians say they support the operation of a safe injection site for illegal drug users in the City of Vancouver. Four-in-ten (40%) residents oppose a safe injection site. The intensity on this issue is evenly balanced, with one-quarter (25%) "strongly" supporting a safe injection site and one-quarter (26%) "strongly" opposing a safe injection site.

• Residents of the City of Vancouver (66%) and Vancouver Island (64%) are more supportive of a safe injection site than are residents of the rest of the Lower Mainland (52%) and the Interior/North (50%).
• Support is also higher among residents with a university degree (61%) or at least some post-secondary education (61%) than among those with high school or less (46%).

Same-Sex Marriage (55% Support, 40% Oppose)

A slim majority (55%) of British Columbians says they support same-sex couples being allowed to marry and register their marriage with the provincial government. Four-in-ten (40%) residents oppose same-sex marriage. British Columbians hold very strong views on the subject of same-sex marriage, with roughly equal numbers in support and opposition. Three-in-ten (32%) residents "strongly" support same-sex marriage and three-in-ten (31%) "strongly" oppose same-sex marriage.

• Residents of the City of Vancouver (70%) and Vancouver Island (62%) are more supportive of same-sex marriage than are residents of the rest of the Lower Mainland (50%) and the Interior/North (47%).
• Support is also higher among women (61% vs. 48% men), younger residents (73% 18-34 years, 53% 35-54 years, 39% 55+ years), more educated residents (66% university degree, 55% some post-secondary, 42% high school or less) and middle/higher income residents (61% $30K+ vs. 40% Decriminalizing Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana (54% Support, 44% Oppose)
  
  A slight majority (54%) of British Columbians says they support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. More than four-in-ten (44%) residents oppose this initiative. The intensity on this issue is evenly balanced, with three-in-ten (28%) residents "strongly" in support of decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana and three-in-ten (28%) "strongly" in opposition.
  • Residents of the City of Vancouver (69%) are much more supportive of decriminalization than are residents of the rest of BC (54% rest of Lower Mainland, 48% Vancouver Island, 50% Interior/North).
  • Support is also higher among men (60% vs. 49% women).
  For more information on this news release, please contact:
  
  Kyle Braid
  Vice-President
  Ipsos-Reid
  604.257.3200