FreshWater Insights 2013 Public Opinion in British Columbia . Summary Overview Released February 2014
Nobody started it, nobody is going to stop it. It will talk as long as it wants, this rain. As long as it talks I am going to listen. --Thomas Merton
Research Methodology • Online poll with a sample of n=1,017 BC residents. • Margin of error is ±3.1% nineteen times out of twenty. • Survey sample was recruited from web panels and email invitation May 25-29, 2013. • Weights were computed according to 2013 census estimates on region, gender and age. • A rich media online research platform “ ReckonApp ” was used to manage respondent fatigue and encourage a high level of engagement during the survey.
Big Picture What matters to British Columbians?
Pride in British Columbia I’d like to start by asking you about British Columbia’s strengths. When you think about all the things that make you PROUD to live in BC, what comes to mind first? UNAIDED. Nature / Environment / Beauty 56 Climate / Weather 9 People / Lifestyle 8 Natural resources 7 Economy / jobs 3 Diversity / Multiculturalism 2 Health care / Social Programs 2 Home / Where I live 2 Democracy / Freedom 2 Good Education 0.4 Public transit / Transportation 0.4 Low Crime rates 0.1 Other 2 Nothing 4 Don't know / No answer 4
Biggest threat to prosperity? What is the biggest THREAT to Canada's long-term prosperity as a nation? UNAIDED. Environment / Natural Resources NET Natural Resources NET 33 USA / China / Foreign influence 12 Abuse / Selloff / Foreign ownership of natural resources 11 Reliance on resource extraction 1 Government / Corruption / Pltcns 11 Jobs / Economy 7 Immigration / Minorities /Muslims 7 Environmental degradation 6 Taxes / Spending / Debt 5 Stephen Harper /Rightwing politics 4 Business / Industry / Capitalism 3 Climate / Global warming 3 Oil industry / Tarsands / Pipelines 3 Social programs / Healthcare / Seniors issues 3 War / terrorists 2 Environmentalists / Radicals 2 Divisive / Polarisation / Quebec 2 Urban sprawl / Population 1 Cost of Living /Economic inequality 1 DK/NA 10 OTHER 5
The Power of Water
Canada’s Most Precious “Natural Resource” What do you consider to be your Canada’s most precious NATURAL RESOURCE? UNAIDED.
Water is life, growth & prosperity In your view, how IMPORTANT is the quality and abundance of fresh water in your region to… Health & well-being of people 72 23 4 Habitat for birds, fish & animals 60 28 10 2 Food & agriculture 52 38 9 1 Way of life 33 42 21 3 1 Peace & relaxation 33 39 23 4 1 Tourism & recreation 29 40 25 5 1 Jobs & economic prosperity 28 43 26 3 Power generation 26 35 28 7 4 Property values 20 31 34 10 5 Vitally Highly Moderately Slightly Not important
Freshwater priorities Which of these statements about the managing of the USE OF WATER during shortages do you most AGREE with? Protecting the health of natural ecosystems and 84 the food chain should be given priority, even at the risk of slowing down economic growth ECONOMIC development should be given priority, even if plants, fish and wildlife suffer to 9 some extent 4 Balance / Both 3 DK/NA
Water Is Shared Values Please say if you AGREE or DISAGREE with the statements below. No matter the ideology of government, the state 82 14 4 1 of the economy, or the laws of the day, we will always need water. Fresh water is a public resource and nobody 69 21 7 2 should be able to own it. 68 25 6 1 0 Fresh water is our most precious resource. Fresh clean water is a legacy to pass on to our 62 31 6 1 children Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree 27 39 27 6 2 11 14 17 30 27 7 16 40 19 17 2 6 18 31 43
But water “as place” is poorly communicated Please name the primary source of your community drinking water. UNAIDED. TOTAL NAMED BODY OF WATER 37 Specific Lake / River / Watershed 13 Capilano reservoir / watershed 8 Aquifer / Groundwater 7 Sooke Reservoir 63 percent of BCers are 3 Coquitlam Lake / Reservoir 3 unable to say where Specific Reservoir / Dam 2 their drinking water Fraser River 1 comes from. Okanagan Lake 1 Lake / River / Watershed 7 Reservoir / Dam 4 Mountain Runoff / Snow melt 4 Tap / City Water 4 Bottled Water 1 DO NOT KNOW SOURCE 43
Knowledge of source of drinking water Please name the primary source of your community’s drinking water. UNAIDED. TOTAL NAMED BODY OF WATER 37 Specific Lake / River / Watershed 13 Capilano reservoir / watershed 8 Aquifer / Groundwater 7 Sooke Reservoir 3 Coquitlam Lake / Reservoir 3 Specific Reservoir / Dam 2 Fraser River 1 Okanagan Lake 1 Lake / River / Watershed 7 The majority of British Columbians Reservoir / Dam 4 (63%) have no idea where their Mountain Runoff / Snow melt 4 drinking water comes from (43%), or only have a vague idea (20%). Tap / City Water 4 Bottled Water 1 DO NOT KNOW SOURCE 43
Water is a Powerful Emotional Brand Tell us about one of your best BC experiences, one involving fresh water. UNAIDED.
Perceptions of freshwater How would you rate the overall condition of lakes, rivers and streams in your community? 25 years ago 48 36 13 Today 5 39 43 10 25 years from now 5 16 31 30 18 Excellent Good OK Poor Terrible
Strict Freshwater Protection In your opinion, what proportion of lakes, rivers, and streams in your province should be completely OFF-LIMITS to industrial, commercial, and urban development? Please provide a target percentage between 0 and 100 per cent. UNAIDED. Mean % of Water Permanently Off-limits to Development BC 64 AB 60 SK 59 MB 60 ON 61 QC 63 ATL 66 Canada 62 0 80
Freshwater Solutions How British Columbians see freshwater sustainability and policy in the years to come
Strong support for strict rules & enforcement There are various ways in which governments could update the rules for protecting and managing fresh water. Please say how much would you FAVOUR or OPPOSE each of the following proposals. Require ANY business that damages or pollutes a 77 19 3 watershed to pay into a local freshwater protection fund Ensure that the protection of nature and natural ecosystems 55 34 6 are always a top priority Set strict province-wide rules and standards for water 49 38 10 1 protection and management Use science to inform decision-making, and ensure that the 48 44 3 1 public has access to the data Require that decision-makers involve the public at the 47 44 4 1 community level in water licensing decisions Provide communities with access to the scientific expertise, 46 43 6 2 data and resources they need to make informed decisions Require the active monitoring and reporting of all water use 45 43 8 2 by industry and municipalities Charge a fee for industrial water use 34 42 15 5 Charge a modest fee for household water use to encourage 7 32 30 26 conservation Strongly favour Somewhat favour Unsure Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
Strong support for ecosystem health & local community control as priorities; ambivalence around water pricing Please say if you AGREE or DISAGREE with the statements below. Subject to strict environmental standards, local 50 36 2 communities should have the right to say 'yes' or 'no' to decisions affecting their fresh water. Rights to use water should be decided according to 46 39 2 community priorities and values, not just who can afford it. Rights to use water should be decided according to fairness and equity, not just who had first access or 36 40 3 2 first rights of use. Rights to use water should be decided according to priorities for ecosystem health, not just for human 30 45 3 1 use. Adopting STRICTER rules for protecting our fresh 8 11 34 18 water will HARM our economy. 7 21 20 15 Water should be priced so that it is not wasted. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
Confidence in the Players How much CONFIDENCE do you have in each of the following players to act in the PUBLIC INTEREST when it comes to protecting fresh water? Conservation groups 33 40 18 7 Local watershed authority 18 48 25 5 Your municipal government 16 42 29 11 First Nations 11 26 26 31 Your provincial government 8 36 33 21 The federal government 8 29 33 28 Your provincial power authority 5 30 37 23 Forestry companies 5 20 37 36 Agri-business 4 26 39 25 Oil & gas companies 4 7 22 64 Mining companies 1 6 24 65 A lot Some Unsure A little None
Strong support for local citizen water boards when empowered by regulation & expertise Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view? (%) We need to invest in stricter regulation , monitoring and enforcement to protect fresh water. 67 Voluntary action and cooperation with industry would be the most effective approach to protecting water 33 quality. To truly solve environmental problems, governments and experts need to take the lead . 65 Governments follow, not lead; to truly solve environmental problems, individual citizens need to 35 step up. Local watershed boards should be appointed by political leaders, & comprised of experts, business 29 & gov’t officials . Local watershed boards should be comprised 71 exclusively of local citizens & experts, selected through a formal jury process .
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