New Public Survey: 86% of British Columbians Surveyed Say Major Changes to Governing Authority Should Require Public Approval
The survey also finds strong support for transparency in negotiations over public land and resources, political authority that stems exclusively from democratic elections, and equal public benefit from public lands and resources.
Vancouver, BC, August 31, 2026 – New public opinion research commissioned by Public Land Use Society (PLUS) finds that 86 per cent of British Columbians surveyed believe major changes to governing authority, including how decisions are made over public lands and natural resources, should receive public approval before taking effect. The survey also finds that 90 per cent believe it is important that the source of that decision-making authority be clearly disclosed and understood by the public.
The research was conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of PLUS to measure British Columbians’ views on core principles underlying governance of public land, the source of political authority, and the goals of reconciliation. The online survey included 1,002 BC adults from July 9 to 15, 2026. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +/- 3.09%, 19 times out of 20.
“We asked British Columbians about principles rather than particular policies because we wanted to understand the foundation they believe should guide these decisions,” said Warren Mirko, Executive Director of Public Land Use Society. “When asked directly, strong majorities preferred elected political authority, equal public benefit from public lands, transparency and a public say over major governance changes. Those views should be part of the conversation about where reconciliation and governance in BC are headed.”
On political authority, 71% say authority over public lands and natural resources should come exclusively from the choices of today’s citizens through democratic elections, while 29% believe it should also be based on Indigenous traditional systems of governance. Nearly three-quarters, 73%, say the Province’s proposed terms, conditions and commitments in negotiations affecting public lands or natural resources should be made public before negotiations take place.
On the management of BC’s public lands and natural resources, 73% of respondents said they should be managed for the public benefit of all Canadians equally, while only 27% supported public lands and natural resources being managed to recognize the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples.
PLUS also commissioned a separate national survey using the same questions, providing a broader Canadian view of the issues examined in the BC research. The national findings should be considered in their own context. Full results from the national survey are available here:
PLUS-Abacus-Canada-Polling-Governance-Reconciliation
About Public Land Use Society (PLUS)
Public Land Use Society (PLUS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring decisions about both public and private land in British Columbia are transparent, lawful, and made in the public interest.
Media Contact
Warren Mirko
Executive Director, Public Land Use Society (PLUS)
warren.mirko@publiclanduse.ca