With the provincial election just six weeks away, the NDP still hold a double digit lead over the Liberals in the latest public opinion poll.
According to the results of an online survey conducted by Insights West late last month, the NDP had the support 45 per cent of decided voters compared with 28 per cent for the governing Liberals. The Greens had the support of 15 per cent and the Conservatives picked up 10 per cent.
When undecided voters are factored in, Insights West pegged the NDP at 33 per cent, the Liberals at 21 per cent, the Greens at 11 per cent, the Conservatives at eight per cent with 20 per cent undecided.
Among the undecided voters, more were leaning Liberal (25 per cent) than NDP (20 per cent). Thirty one per cent of the undecideds did not indicate which way they were leaning.
The poll didn't provide a regional break down of support in northern B.C., but did show the NDP leading in all three regions considered: Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley; Vancouver Island and the rest of the province.
The poll also asked about the Liberals ethnic outreach scandal, with 47 per cent of respondents saying that Premier Christy Clark should not have stepped down despite the fact that public funds were used for partisan purposes by some government staff members. Nearly a third - 30 per cent - of respondents said Clark should have resigned.
The survey was conducted between March 26-31 and included 855 respondents. It's considered accurate within plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Meanwhile, the NDP became the first party to finalize a full slate of candidates when they nominated their final four candidates on the weekend. Both ridings in the Peace were among the final constituencies to select a representative. Tumbler Ridge mayor Darwin Wren got the nod in Peace River South and Judy Fox-McGuire will carry the banner in Peace River North.
The Liberals have nominated 74 candidates, but still have 11 districts to fill mostly on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland. The Conservatives, who don't plan to run against some independents, have nominated 46 candidates according to bc2013.com. The Greens have decided not to run against any independents and have 44 candidates confirmed. Both the Conservatives and the Greens plan on announcing candidates in Prince George Valemount soon.
No party has filed any standing nomination paperwork for candidates in either Prince George riding to date. The deadline to submit candidate nominations to Elections BC is April 26.
