Vancouver voters frustrated ahead of next civic election: poll

Less than a year from the next municipal elections in B.C., Vancouver voters appear to be ready for a change.

New polling by Canada Pulse Insights for The Leader Spirit found affordability tops the list for the most important issue facing the city of Vancouver. Home ownership, homelessness, the opioid crisis, health care, crime, and traffic congestion also make the cut.

Of least importance to respondents is education and affordable daycare — two portfolios that fall under the purview of the provincial government.

The Leader Spirit also polled residents of the Metro Vancouver Regional District at large. The top issues are mirrored for voters across Metro Vancouver, who are also worried about available jobs, public transit and accountability and ethics at City Hall.

When Vancouverites were asked if they think the city is headed in the right direction, only 35 per cent of people agreed. Sixty-five per cent felt it was on the ‘wrong track,’ while 73 per cent of people agreed Mayor Ken Sim and council are out of touch with what residents want and need.

People in Metro Vancouver felt the same way. Sixty-two per cent think Vancouver is not in good shape, and 69 per cent of people think Sim is doing a bad job.

Sixty-nine per cent of Vancouver residents, according to the poll, feel it’s “time for a change” and that Sim shouldn’t be re-elected. Sixty-four per cent of people think council members should be voted out as well.

Fifty-eight per cent felt Sim is doing a ‘bad job,’ while 55 per cent felt city council is doing a ‘bad job.’

Only 27 per cent of respondents prefer to elect municipal candidates from a united party with the rest opting to “elect a mayor and councillors individually, based on each candidate’s platform, policies, and views.”

The next civic election is Oct. 17, 2026.

Canada Pulse Insights polled 351 adults from Vancouver and 306 adults throughout the Metro Vancouver Regional District from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6. Probability samples of this size have an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 5.2% (n=351) and +/- 5.7% (n=306), 19 times out of 20.