The vast majority of Metro Vancouver residents want all orders of government to jointly invest in the region’s critical infrastructure to help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent public opinion research.
While public health and affordability were the most prominent public concerns, an overwhelming majority of residents felt that investment in critical infrastructure must be part of B.C.’s and Canada’s plans to build back better from COVID-19.
In late summer 2020, Mustel Group surveyed 1,500 Canadians (300 from each of five Metro Vancouver sub-regions) to better understand public concerns and attitudes toward Metro Vancouver’s services and infrastructure.
Fully 81 per cent agreed that infrastructure investment is an effective way to stimulate the economy, and 85 per cent agreed that senior governments should provide additional funding for local infrastructure projects. Projects related to drinking water, wastewater treatment and housing garnered the most support.
“We heard loud and clear that the number one priority is mitigating the ongoing public health crisis,” said Sav Dhaliwal, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors. “However, when people considered the types of government stimulus that would help the economy recover in the long-run, critical infrastructure investment came out on top.”