With British Columbia’s provincial election approaching, new polling from the Angus Reid Institute suggests Premier David Eby faces a significant challenge in overcoming negative public perceptions of his leadership.
According to the survey, 78 percent of British Columbians offered something negative about Eby when asked what they disliked about him, compared with 46 percent who offered something positive when asked what they liked.
The most frequently cited criticisms involved perceived dishonesty, broken promises or opportunism (24 percent), followed by concerns about weak or ineffective leadership (20 percent). Another 12 percent raised issues involving government spending, deficits, debt or taxation.
Positive impressions were considerably less common. Eby’s personal character and leadership competence were each mentioned by 13 percent of respondents, while 12 percent cited his policies or NDP values.
The findings present a different picture for BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson, with a substantially larger share of respondents unable or unwilling to offer an assessment of the challenger.
While 55 percent offered something negative about Doerkson, 51 percent offered something positive. When asked what they liked about him, 31 percent said they did not know him or provided no answer. Another 29 percent fell into the same category when asked what they disliked.
Among uncertain voters, 55 percent were recorded as not knowing Doerkson or providing no answer when asked to identify something positive about him. Half (50 percent) gave those responses when asked what they disliked.
Where positive impressions of Doerkson have formed, respondents most frequently cited his conservative values, the prospect of change or a fresh start, and perceived honesty or integrity, each mentioned by 14 percent.
His leading criticisms involved conservative ideology or party values (18 percent), being unknown, untested or inexperienced (10 percent), and concerns involving social issues or more extreme elements within his party (10 percent).
The findings highlight a contrast ahead of the October 24 election: Eby faces substantial criticism of his leadership, while many British Columbians have yet to express a clear opinion about his Conservative opponent.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey October 1–3, 2026, among 1,013 British Columbia adults drawn from its online panel. Results were weighted using census demographics. Respondents answered separate, open-ended questions about what they liked and disliked about each leader, with responses subsequently grouped into themes. The findings reflect expressed perceptions rather than formal approval or disapproval ratings.