New Poll Finds British Columbians Concerned About Economic Competitiveness and Calling for Balanced Labour Policies

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2026 /CNW/ -- A new survey from the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) reveals concerns about British Columbia's economic outlook, strong support for policies that encourage investment and job creation, and broad agreement on the importance of balanced labour laws.

Conducted by Fairview Strategy, the survey highlights three key findings:

British Columbians Are Concerned About BC's Competitiveness

Four in ten British Columbians (40%) expect BC's economy to worsen over the next 12 months, while 48% believe the province is on the wrong track.

Just 11% consider BC a very competitive place to invest and do business compared to other parts of Canada and the United States, while one-third (33%) say the province is not competitive.

"British Columbians want a competitive economy with clear regulations, reliable infrastructure and balanced labour policies that support both workers and businesses," said Greg Wilson of the Retail Council of Canada.

British Columbians Want Government to Prioritize Investment and Job Creation

Approximately 90% of British Columbians agree that reliable infrastructure, ease of doing business, a skilled workforce, balanced labour laws and predictable regulations are important to attracting investment and creating jobs.

Support also extends to practical solutions, with 84% backing investment in transportation and trade corridors and more than 80% supporting measures to address organized retail crime and the online resale of stolen goods.

British Columbians Support Fair and Balanced Labour Policies

The survey reveals strong support for worker choice and fairness in union certification. An overwhelming 91% agree employees should hear both union and employer perspectives before deciding, while 88% believe workers should be protected from pressure by either side.

It also found that 84% of British Columbians agree employees should have the final say through a confidential vote on union representation, with strong agreement among supporters of all three major provincial parties and both union and non-union households.

"The results show broad support for balanced labour policies, particularly when it comes to worker choice, fairness and transparency," said Mike Witherly of Fairview Strategy.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted by Fairview Strategy in October 203, 2026 among 856 adult British Columbians. Results are weighted, with a weighted base of 800. The reported margin of error for a probability-based sample of this size is ±3.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Download tables.

About Retail Council of Canada

Retail is Canada's largest private sector employer. Over 318,000 (September 2026) residents of British Columbia work directly in the retail industry. Retail impacts hundreds of thousands of related jobs in wholesale, transportation, information technology, legal and accounting professions. The sector annually generates $17 billion (2024 data) in wages and employee benefits for British Columbians. Core retail sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline) in B.C. were $77.4 billion in 2025. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members account for more than two thirds of these core retail sales and 95 per cent of the grocery market. Our membership extends across the country, embracing over 65,000 storefronts in diverse formats such as department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers, online merchants, and quick service restaurants. As the Voice of Retail™ in Canada, RCC, a not-for-profit, industry-funded association, proudly represents retail businesses of all sizes, from small independents to large national chains, in communities nationwide. retailcouncil.org.

Download RCC's ask to the Government.

SOURCE Retail Council of Canada