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New polling data shows most Vancouverites support some of the city’s recent moves to deal with the housing crisis, including the Empty Homes Tax.

The new data, provided exclusively to Postmedia, examined public opinion on some of Vancouver’s recent housing policies, and comes five months out from a municipal election where housing figures to be the most prominent issue by far.

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The poll of 400 Vancouver residents between April 6 and 10 was commissioned by the City of Vancouver and conducted by local public opinion polling company Research Co.

Research Co. president Mario Canseco said the results show that “even though there’s still a lot of animosity about the housing issue, and we see it consistently as the number one issue facing the city, there are certain things they’ve done that are quite popular.”

Photo by STEPHANIE IP / PNG

The results released to Postmedia related to three policy measures implemented by Vancouver city council in recent years, all of which seek to help improve the city’s rental housing shortage and unaffordability crisis. In 2016, Vancouver became North America’s first city to implement a tax on under-utilized homes, and this year became the country’s first major city to regulate short-term rentals like Aribnb. Both measures passed with council voting along party lines, with support from Vision Vancouver and Green councillors and opposition from Non-Partisan Association councillors.