Question #1 For which candidate and party will you caste your vote in the South Delta in the 2009 provincial election? (adjusted for gender)

Dileep Athaide and BC New Democrats		26.3 %
Vicki Huntington-Independent		33.1 %
Wally Oppal and BC Liberals		33.4 %
Candidate and Green Party		7.2 %
Other/Undecided		11 %

Question #2 The CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada’s public broadcaster is looking to cut 800 jobs unless it can secure a $150 million loan from the Canadian government. The CBC is not permitted to borrow from public leaders like private companies do? In your opinion, should the federal government loan the CBC the money?

Yes		47 %
No		45 %

Question #3 Would you be willing to have the BC provincial government build a remand and minimum security facility in your area?

Yes		9.5 %
No		88 %

Question #4 Which of the following disturbs you more (select only one)?

The fact that the RCMP raided the BC provincial legislature over five years ago and the matter still has not gone to trial		29 %
The Robert Dziekanski Tasering death at the hands of the RCMP		43 %
The fact that the perpetrators in the Air India bombing got away with the murder of 250 people		28 %

Question #5 The definition of marriage in Canada has changed to include same sex couples. Should polygamy be legalized as well?

Yes		18 %
No		82 %

Question #6 If it happens that the Supreme Court of Canada declares that polygamy should be considered legal as same sex marriage has, should the Premier of British Columbia opt out of that ‘decision’ on behalf of British Columbians?

Yes		19 %
No		81 %

Commentary

It’s nice to be back in South Delta once again getting a grip on how voters see the upcoming BC provincial general election in May 2009.

The last time we came to South Delta-it was a by-election in 1999 featuring Reform BC leader Bill Vander Zalm and current BC Liberal MLA Val Roddick. Our poll correctly predicted that by-election outcome for the BC Liberals, and was featured in a Michael Smyth column in the Province newspaper. That was an exciting election campaign.

This ROBBINS poll suggests South Delta will be an exciting contest in this provincial election.

BC Liberal Attorney General Wally Oppal is in a ‘dead heat’ with Independent Vicki Huntington (33.40%-33.09%), while the BC New Democrats score (26.3%).

The BC Liberals are down (11%) from their previous election totals of (37.48%) in the 2005 B.C. provincial general election. Independent Vicki Huntington scores nearly precisely the same public support now as she did voter support in 2005.

The British Columbia New Democrats, who scored (03%) in that ROBBINS poll nearly a decade ago are up (12%) from the (23.97%) they received in 2005.

Is Wilf Hanni running a candidate in South Delta now that he has a candidate in North Delta?---and if not—why not—Vicki Huntington?

Residents in South Delta are split on having the Federal government loan the CBC $150. It is our impression that the fact the CBC cannot borrow money from traditional lending sources—helped to secure the “Yes” totals.

Citizens in South Delta like those in Burnaby do not want a remand and minimum security facility in their area—however, a number of South Delta residents offered the opinion that Burnaby ought to accept such a facility.

The Robert Dziekanski Taser death, at the hands of the R.C.M.P. is seen by nearly one out of two respondents in South Delta as disturbing them “more” than “the fact that the RCMP raided the BC provincial legislature over five years ago and the matter still has not gone to trial (29%), and “the fact that the perpetrators in the Air India bombing got away with the murder of 250 people (28%).

One respondent—mistakenly believed that the RCMP raid occurred under the former BC New Democrats “that’s why I won’t vote for them”.

Barely one in five South Delta respondents are of the opinion that polygamy should be considered legal—after same sex marriages have been given legal status. A similar number are of the opinion that if the Supreme Court of Canada—eventually grants legal status to polygamists—owing to Charter Rights protection of religious freedoms—yet only one if five are desirous of having the Premier of the province—opt out of such a legal decision.

Glen P. Robbins