Premier Eby’s provincial budget is the most unpopular since Premier Campbell’s HST budget in 2010. Even among NDP loyalist, with fewer than half satisfied with it.
These results are drawn from an online survey conducted between February 06, 2026 and March 03, 2026, sponsored and conducted by Innovative Research Group. The survey interviewed n=991 BC citizens, 18 years or older. The results are nationally weighted to n=700 based on Census data from Statistics Canada by age, gender, region, education, and self reported past federal vote to ensure the sample reflects Census population benchmarks. With the mid-month release of the BC budget. Additional sample was added to provide a unweighted sample of n=730 BC residents weighted to N=500 for budget questions.
Last month’s BC NDP budget is the most unpopular on announcement of any budget since 2010. Net satisfaction is 45 points lower than last year’s in March of 2025 (-14), and the worst recorded under any government since 2011. Only Premier Campbell’s historically unpopular 2010 HST budget is in the same neighbourhood – to the point that only 40% of those that identify as government supporters are satisfied.
Unsurprisingly given the overall reaction, the February 2026 budget is also damaging to the NDP government’s favourability. Among the 41% of respondents who read, saw, or heard (RSH) about the budget, 67% report that it left them less favourable towards the provincial BC NDP government. Net favourability collapsed to -61, a 43-point drop from last year’s budget in March 2025 (-18). Only 7% feel more favourable.
Across every impact measure, such as taxes, employment, and healthcare, the budget drives deeply negative expectations. 72% expect higher taxes (up 17 points from March 2025), 54% say healthcare will be worse off, 52% expect higher unemployment, 42% say education will suffer, and 70% anticipate higher user fees. Even voters with mixed or ambivalent have majority negative views across most measures.
The budget has overtaken all other news about Premier Eby and leaving people feeling worse about him and government. Prior to the budget, Eby’s Tumbler Ridge visit after the mass shooting drove strongly positive coverage (net favourability impact of +48). Post-budget, deficits, tax increases, and social program cuts now dominate mentions at 26%, with a net favourability impact of -82.
Amid this strongly negative budget response, the BC Conservatives have opened a clear lead in BC vote intention. We now see the BC Conservatives leading with 40% combined support (47% decided), ahead of the NDP at 34% (39% decided). This is a widening of the gap since November 2025. A majority (52%) are dissatisfied with the provincial government, and 60% say it is time for a change.
Premier Eby now faces a challenging task in managing delivery of an unpopular budget and the increasingly entrenched idea among voters that it is time for a change of government. If that bakes into public consciousness it will be increasingly difficult to chance the topline vote intention numbers.
