One in four identify as British Columbians first, Canadians second: poll

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — British Columbian first, Canadian second, is how a number of people in B.C. identify, according to a new poll.

Research Co. found one in four respondents put their British Columbian identity first, and that number climbs to 44 per cent among people in the Fraser Valley. Almost two-thirds of British Columbians say they identify as Canadian first.

The online survey also found nearly 60 per cent of British Columbians feel they have more in common with people in Seattle and Portland than they do with those in Toronto and Montreal. Men, British Columbians aged 55 and over, and Fraser Valley residents are more likely to feel closer to people in Washington and Oregon.

But, when asked if B.C. would be better off as its own country, 65 per cent disagreed.

According to the poll, more than three-in-five British Columbians claim their views “are different from the rest of the country.”

“There is a higher sense of pride in British Columbia on a couple of the questions that we track to commemorate B.C. Day,” says Mario Canseco, president of Research Co. “The results on whether the province would be better off as its own country are higher than in 2018 and 2019, but lower than what we have observed in Quebec and Alberta in years past.”

More than one-in-five British Columbians think John Horgan has been the province’s best premier since 1986. Bill Vander Zalm places second, followed by Christy Clark, Gordon Campbell, and Mike Harcourt.