ICBA President says opposition stance on big projects not shared by majority of BC

A new study released by the Independent Contractors and Business Association shows that overall, 84% of British Columbians support responsible resource development.

President Philip Hochstein says a poll of 800 BC residents makes it clear, that what he calls, “the no to everything movement” driven by the opposition New Democrats, does not represent the majority view.

With several large industrial projects just underway, and/or going through the approval process, the online poll commissioned by the ICBA was conducted by NRG Research Group — a leading Western Canadian public affairs and market research company — to try and understand the public attitudes towards the resource industry.

Of particular interest in this region, the results showed 67% support for the Site-C Dam project, and just among NDP voters, there was 60% support.

In fact, among NDP voters, the support for responsible resource development and the jobs it creates was only slightly less — at 81% — than the aforementioned all-party support.

Thus, Mr. Hochstein says the NDP would do well to start focusing on that 81% and stop catering to the views of its negative vocal minority.

As for the new federal government, he says.

The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association has released the results of a new poll, which among other things shows 58% of BC residents supporting LNG development and only 28% opposed to it.

However, President Philip Hochstein argues, there’s a pressing need to get BC onto the world stage.

Mr. Hochstein suggested what is often forgotten in the discussion over balancing economic growth with environmental protection, is that one can’t proceed without the other.

He says while this new poll of 800 BC residents shows more than 80% of the people support resource development, both regulators and industry leaders share their desire to make it, responsible resource development.