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Survey of British Columbia residents commissioned by BCFL in advance of provincial budget.
Vancouver (1 Sept. 2009) - An Ipsos Reid poll commissioned by the B.C. Federation of Labour (BCFL) and several affiliated unions shows strong support for budget measures by the province's Liberal government to help families weather the recession.
A new budget will be tabled in the legislature today.
Conducted in mid-August and just released by the federation, the poll revealed:
- 86% support for investing in more public services like post-secondary education and re-training programs for unemployed workers.
- 75% opposed to cuts in services like child protection, legal aid and provincial parks in order to balance the budget.
- 61% opposed to cuts in spending for environmental protection and enforcement in order to balance the budget.
- 84% support for increased funding for local health authorities to prevent cuts to health services.
- 85% support for new initiatives to protect and create jobs in B.C.
- 76% support for creating a new child care program to help working families.
"These results confirm what the labour movement has been saying for a long time: the provincial government needs to take decisive steps now to protect valuable public services that working families in this province need," says BCFL president Jim Sinclair.
"Unfortunately, the Campbell government has so far ignored our call for these steps. We’re hoping that the tabling of a revised budget on September 1st will show a change of direction, a change that begins to align the government’s budget priorities with the majority of people in B.C.," Sinclair says.
"It’s obvious from this poll that voters will not accept balancing the books by cuts to valuable public services," Sinclair said.
Public wants greater tax fairness
The poll also found that B.C. residents want greater tax fairness from the government.
"When 76% of respondents support increasing taxes paid by corporations and B.C.’s wealthy, it tells me that B.C. voters are very receptive to meaningful tax reform," Sinclair adds.
"We will be in Victoria for the budget presentation. Hopefully, the priorities reflected in these polling numbers are also reflected in what the finance minster tables in the legislature. British Columbians deserve nothing less."
The telephone poll, conducted by Ipsos Reid August 8-12, surveyed 801 adults across the province. The margin of error for such a survey is plus or minus 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.
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