British Columbia’s political landscape is tightening, with the BC NDP now statistically tied with the leaderless BC Conservatives in voter intention, according to a new poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute. The survey suggests shifting public opinion on indigenous land and mineral rights is giving the opposition fresh momentum.Premier David Eby and his party face growing scrutiny after recent court decisions and ongoing debates over the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Passed under former Premier John Horgan, DRIPA aligns provincial law with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) but has sparked concerns that it limits provincial authority. Public perception has shifted markedly: 53% now say DRIPA “goes too far,” up from 44% in August 2025..The poll shows voters who believe the province has ceded too much power on property and mineral rights are heavily leaning toward the BC Conservatives, with 70% indicating support for the opposition compared with just 21% for the NDP. Analysts suggest this may explain why Eby’s government is reportedly considering softening aspects of DRIPA’s language.Public dissatisfaction extends beyond land rights. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said B.C. is on the wrong track, a 17-point jump from last year, signaling broad unease that could reshape the province’s political balance ahead of the next election.The findings underscore a volatile political environment where debates over indigenous land and resource authority are driving shifts in voter sentiment, presenting both risk and opportunity for the province’s parties.
