67% of Vancouverites say housing is most important issue ahead of election

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – More people in Vancouver say housing is the number one issue facing the city compared to the last few years. That’s according to a new poll that found housing is the top issue for 67 per cent of people in Vancouver as civic elections approach.

Mario Canseco with Research Co. says that’s compared to 40 and 50 per cent in previous years.

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He adds the issue is particularly on the minds of those between the ages of 18 to 34 years old, a group that also has a higher number of undecided voters compared to Generation X and Baby Boomers.

“I think there’s definitely an uncharted potential there of voters who may be willing to support a candidate who speaks what they want to hear on housing,” he says. “So there’s a lot of room to grow for all of the candidates on that file.”

Canseco says the recent numbers show Independent Kennedy Stewart is in the lead, and has benefited from Vision Vancouver’s candidate dropping out of the race.

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But, he notes with multiple centre-left and centre-right candidates, anything could happen in the lead-up to Oct. 20.

“Whoever can connect with that new voter base, who may be more satisfied with some of the actions that Vision has taken over the years but might be more satisfied on the housing file, is going to do very well.”

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He says Ken Sim with the Non-Partisan Association is second to Stewart at 11 points behind.

The survey was conducted from Sept. 15 to Sept. 18 among 400 adults in Vancouver and has a margin error of +/- 4.9 per cent.

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar 

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