Greater Vancouver Board of Trade B.C. Election Survey September 2016
Overview
GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE Membership Election Survey o The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade works to provide evidence-based, non-partisan commentary, guided by our Members’ interests and priorities. In line with this commitment, we have conducted a comprehensive survey to gauge where our members stand on a variety of relevant issues. o The results that have emerged will shape our Provincial Election Strategy 2017 o 324 responses at survey close o Results presented here are from the survey period of September 13 – 20, 2016
Key Findings
TRENDS & FINDINGS o High degree of alignment with Greater Vancouver Economic Scorecard 2016 o Major issues highlighted include housing/cost of living affordability, transit & transportation infrastructure, tax competitiveness, and business & talent attraction o Strong support for trade-enabling infrastructure investments and responsible resource/energy development in B.C o Emerging topics of interest include: mobility pricing, health care, mental health/homelessness, municipal amalgamation, and economic diversity
Responses
ELECTION AWARENESS Q
Are you aware there will be a Provincial Election in May 2017?
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
92% Yes
8% No
INTENTION TO VOTE Q
Do you intend on voting in the 2017 Provincial Election?
5%
95%
Yes
No
Unsure
MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION ISSUES Q
What are the most important issues for you and your business in the 2017 B.C. Provincial Election? (Select up to 3) most important election issues 0% Tra ns i t/Trans portation Hous i ng Afforda bi l i ty
Cost of Li vi ng a nd Afforda bi l i ty Jobs a nd Empl oyment Energy Tax Competitivenes s Envi ronment and Cl i mate Change Heal th Ca re Support for Bus i nes s Creation/Growth Education Gov. Trans pa rency and Accounta bi l i ty Reduci ng Red Ta pe Menta l Heal th a nd Addi ctions Other
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
ENERGY & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Q
Should the Provincial Government pursue ways to champion the responsible development of B.C’s energy and natural resources? 15 26
222
Yes
No
Unsure
TRADE-ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE Q
Should the Provincial Government prioritize the development of trade-enabling infrastructure? 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
76%
16%
Yes
Unsure
8%
No
TRANSIT & TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES Q
What transit and transportation infrastructure priorities do you want the next Provincial Government to pursue? (Rank your top 3)
ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX Q
Do you support the 15% additional property transfer tax on foreign home buyers implemented by the Provincial Government?
9%
26%
65%
Yes
No
Unsure
AFFORDABILITY & TALENT Q
Has your company’s ability to recruit or retain employees been affected by affordability issues?
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
59%
Yes
27%
No
14%
Unsure
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY Q
Are governments affordability?
doing
enough
to
address
housing
16%
Federal Government
73% 11%
12%
Metro Vancouver
73% 15%
11%
Municipal Governments
74% 15%
8%
Provincial Government
66% 26% 0%
10%
20%
Yes
30%
No
40%
Unsure
50%
60%
70%
80%
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION REFERENDA Q
Should future new funding sources for TransLink and regional transportation investments be subject to a referendum?
7% 31%
62%
Yes
No
Unsure
RIDESHARING IN B.C. Q
Should the Provincial Government work with municipal governments to allow ridesharing? (e.g., UBER, Lyft)
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
79% Yes
11% No
10% Unsure
ECONOMIC STRATEGY SUFFICIENCY Q
Does the Provincial Government have a sufficient economic strategy for the Lower Mainland?
18% 36%
47%
Yes
No
Unsure
COORDINATION & ECONOMIC GROWTH Q
Do you believe different levels of government (e.g., provincial, regional, municipal) are collaborating effectively to support economic growth in Greater Vancouver?
69%
19% 12%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Yes
40%
Unsure
50%
No
60%
70%
80%
MOBILITY PRICING IN B.C. Q
Should the B.C. Government work with local governments and communities to pursue mobility pricing (e.g, road tolling, distance pricing, etc.) to fund investments in public transit and roads?
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
68%
9%
Yes
Unsure
23%
No
SCORECARD CHALLENGES Q
The 2016 Greater Vancouver Economic Scorecard identified 7 challenges to our region’s overall competitiveness. Please rank these challenges in order of importance to you and your business. Low productivity levels
11%
High marginal tax rates on capital investment
12%
Land scarcity for enabling trade
12%
Attracting head offices
13%
Improving educational attainment rates
13%
Lack of investment in public transit and roads
19%
Housing affordability 0%
20% 5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
highest importance
TRANS-MOUNTAIN EXPANSION Q
Do you support Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans-Mountain Expansion Project to increase the capacity of their existing pipeline and Burnaby terminal facilities?
12%
26% 62%
Yes
No
Unsure
ROBERTS BANK PORT EXPANSION Q
Do you support the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s proposed port expansion at Roberts Bank in Delta?
80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
72%
Yes
11%
No
17%
Unsure
MASSEY TUNNEL REPLACEMENT Q
Do you support the Provincial Government’s plans to replace the Massey Tunnel with a 10-lane bridge?
17%
20%
64%
Yes
No
Unsure
PST REFORM Q
Do you believe the Provincial Government should reform the Provincial Sales Tax (PST)?
14%
19%
67%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Yes
40%
Unsure
50%
No
60%
70%
CUMULATIVE BUSINESS TAXES Q
Do you believe the cumulative taxes paid by B.C. businesses are too high?
45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%
42%
Yes
37%
No
22%
Unsure
BUSINESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Q
What are some practical actions the next Provincial Government should take to support the business community?
Scorecard Reinforcement o
invest in rapid transit & transportation infrastructure
o
improve affordability in Greater Vancouver to remain attractive to workers
o
foster innovation by working to attract HQs, businesses, capital, and talent
o
review tax competitiveness, including PST and effective business tax rates
o
advance large energy infrastructure projects, including pipeline and port expansion, while managing environmental concerns
o
increase collaboration between regions and levels of government
Emerging Recommendations o
avoid referenda on important issues with high potential to become divisive
o
municipal amalgamation
o
explore mobility pricing and other incentives to reduce traffic congestion in core areas
o
encourage economic diversification, including investment in clean energy and the knowledge economy
OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES Q
If not previously mentioned, what other issues are important to you and your business in the 2017 Provincial Election?
Scorecard Reinforcement o availability of land for industrial land development o major human capital challenges related to affordability and wage competitiveness
Emerging Issues o health-care costs, service models, and accessibility o government transparency and accountability o mental health and homelessness o sound economic management
Thank you