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Indications of that frustration can be seen throughout the poll, which took place March 3 to 17 and surveyed 604 people, from concerns over B.C.’s loose political fundraising rules, to the sentiment that the Liberal government “is only interested in helping its political donors and big business,” a statement that 76 per cent of respondents agreed with. That number jumped to 89 per cent among 18 to 34-year-olds, who also selected “shrinking the gap between the rich and the poor” as their top choice when asked what the government’s economic priorities should be.

Meanwhile, 75 per cent of all respondents said inequality was a huge problem in B.C., while 47 per cent disagreed with the idea that a person need only work hard to achieve success. Today, The Vancouver Sun began a weeklong series examining the issue of B.C.’s working poor. Click here to read part one.

Paul Kershaw, a UBC professor and founder of Generation Squeeze, a political lobby for those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, wasn’t surprised that housing was identified as the biggest issue facing B.C. by 21 per cent of respondents, topping health care at 19 per cent and the economy at 14 per cent. Housing will be “front and centre” in the election, he predicted.

“Those winning out in the housing market are those who were able to buy decades ago and have now become wealthy because of rising house prices,” he said. “By contrast, their kids and grandkids are struggling to get into the housing market. I think we’re starting to see intergenerational solidarity emerging. Those winning are in the same families as those who are struggling.”