Two-thirds of B.C. residents oppose museum project after government 'stepped in the glue,' pollsters say
Weeks after B.C.’s premier first admitted the announcement of a planned museum replacement “landed with a thud,” an opinion poll has found the majority of residents are against the controversial project.
A whopping 69 per cent of respondents in the Angus Reid Institute survey oppose the $789 million rebuilding of the Royal B.C. Museum, while just 22 per cent support it.
The non-profit public opinion research foundation pointed out the pricey project is an easy target for frustration at a time record inflation is making everything from gas to groceries increasingly unaffordable, and as seismic upgrades for schools are being delayed and one in five citizens cannot find a family doctor.
“(The public is asking) ‘Why are you spending almost a billion dollars on this at a time we're really struggling with other priorities?’” said Angus Reid president Shachi Kurl. “They famously like to say they don't pay attention to polls, but I think they know they've stepped in the glue on this one.”
The provincial government has made several attempts to justify the sticker shock of what is now the most expensive museum project in Canada, with the premier admitting the timing wasn’t good and that he recognizes the backlash.
“I very much regret that it landed with a thud,” said John Horgan on May 19, calling the project a political football. “The response has been profound and we accept that.”
Horgan’s approval rating has also suffered, but there is a silver lining for him and his government: the B.C. Liberal Party’s new leader isn’t seeing a bump in support amid the backlash.
The same poll, in the form of an online survey that ran June 7 to 13 “among a representative randomized sample of 615 B.C. adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum,” found that only 23 per cent of respondents view Kevin Falcon favourably or very favourably; a full third had no opinion of him.
In comparison, 48 per cent said they approve or very much approve of Horgan, with 47 per cent saying they disapprove or very much disapprove.
“By and large the public seems to be focusing opposition on the museum itself, and the government and premier have only taken small hits here," pointed out Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.
He expects the NDP to wait out the summer and see if the controversy blows over or if voters can be directed to focus on a fresh agenda in the fall. He also suggested the Liberals have to be careful or Falcon’s focus on the museum could spell trouble for them.
“He still has work to do to connect with the public and this might be the way to do it,” said Telford. “Or maybe after a while people will think he's flogging a dead horse and has to get onto more serious issues to make more headway against a relatively popular government."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.