FreshWater Insights 2013 Public Opinion in British Columbia . - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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.
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Released February 2014
fatigue and encourage a high level of engagement during the survey.
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.
4 4 2 0.1 0.4 0.4 2 2 2 2 3 7 8 9 56
Don't know / No answer Nothing Other Low Crime rates Public transit / Transportation Good Education Democracy / Freedom Home / Where I live Health care / Social Programs Diversity / Multiculturalism Economy / jobs Natural resources People / Lifestyle Climate / Weather Nature / Environment / Beauty
33 12 11 1 11 7 7 6 5 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 10 5
Natural Resources NET USA / China / Foreign influence Abuse / Selloff / Foreign ownership of natural resources Reliance on resource extraction Government / Corruption / Pltcns Jobs / Economy Immigration / Minorities /Muslims Environmental degradation Taxes / Spending / Debt Stephen Harper /Rightwing politics Business / Industry / Capitalism Climate / Global warming Oil industry / Tarsands / Pipelines Social programs / Healthcare / Seniors issues War / terrorists Environmentalists / Radicals Divisive / Polarisation / Quebec Urban sprawl / Population Cost of Living /Economic inequality DK/NA OTHER Environment / Natural Resources NET
What is the biggest THREAT to Canada's long-term prosperity as a nation? UNAIDED.
What do you consider to be your Canada’s most precious NATURAL RESOURCE? UNAIDED.
72 60 52 33 33 29 28 26 20 23 28 38 42 39 40 43 35 31 4 10 9 21 23 25 26 28 34 2 1 3 4 5 3 7 10 1 1 1 4 5
Health & well-being of people Habitat for birds, fish & animals Food & agriculture Way of life Peace & relaxation Tourism & recreation Jobs & economic prosperity Power generation Property values
Vitally Highly Moderately Slightly Not important In your view, how IMPORTANT is the quality and abundance of fresh water in your region to…
Which of these statements about the managing of the USE OF WATER during shortages do you most AGREE with?
84 9 4 3
Protecting the health of natural ecosystems and 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 some extent Balance / Both DK/NA
Please say if you AGREE or DISAGREE with the statements below.
82 69 68 62 27 11 7 2 14 21 25 31 39 14 16 6 4 7 6 6 27 17 40 18 1 2 1 1 6 30 19 31 2 27 17 43
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
No matter the ideology of government, the state
always need water. Fresh water is a public resource and nobody should be able to own it. Fresh water is our most precious resource. Fresh clean water is a legacy to pass on to our children
Please name the primary source of your community drinking water. UNAIDED.
37 13 8 7 3 3 2 1 1 7 4 4 4 1 43
TOTAL NAMED BODY OF WATER Specific Lake / River / Watershed Capilano reservoir / watershed Aquifer / Groundwater Sooke Reservoir Coquitlam Lake / Reservoir Specific Reservoir / Dam Fraser River Okanagan Lake Lake / River / Watershed Reservoir / Dam Mountain Runoff / Snow melt Tap / City Water Bottled Water DO NOT KNOW SOURCE
Please name the primary source of your community’s drinking water. UNAIDED.
37 13 8 7 3 3 2 1 1 7 4 4 4 1 43 TOTAL NAMED BODY OF WATER Specific Lake / River / Watershed Capilano reservoir / watershed Aquifer / Groundwater Sooke Reservoir Coquitlam Lake / Reservoir Specific Reservoir / Dam Fraser River Okanagan Lake Lake / River / Watershed Reservoir / Dam Mountain Runoff / Snow melt Tap / City Water Bottled Water DO NOT KNOW SOURCE The majority of British Columbians (63%) have no idea where their drinking water comes from (43%),
Tell us about one of your best BC experiences, one involving fresh water. UNAIDED.
How would you rate the overall condition of lakes, rivers and streams in your community? 48 5 5 36 39 16 13 43 31 10 30 18
25 years ago Today 25 years from now
Excellent Good OK Poor Terrible
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.
62 66 63 61 60 59 60 64
80
Canada ATL QC ON MB SK AB BC
Mean % of Water Permanently Off-limits to Development
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.
77 55 49 48 47 46 45 34 7 19 34 38 44 44 43 43 42 32 3 6 10 3 4 6 8 15 30 1 1 1 2 2 5 26
Strongly favour Somewhat favour Unsure Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
Require ANY business that damages or pollutes a watershed to pay into a local freshwater protection fund Ensure that the protection of nature and natural ecosystems are always a top priority Set strict province-wide rules and standards for water protection and management Use science to inform decision-making, and ensure that the public has access to the data Require that decision-makers involve the public at the community level in water licensing decisions Provide communities with access to the scientific expertise, data and resources they need to make informed decisions Require the active monitoring and reporting of all water use by industry and municipalities Charge a fee for industrial water use Charge a modest fee for household water use to encourage conservation
Please say if you AGREE or DISAGREE with the statements below.
50 46 36 30 8 7 36 39 40 45 11 21 2 2 3 3 34 20 2 1 18 15
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree
Subject to strict environmental standards, local 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 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 first rights of use. Rights to use water should be decided according to priorities for ecosystem health, not just for human use. Adopting STRICTER rules for protecting our fresh water will HARM our economy. Water should be priced so that it is not wasted.
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?
33 18 16 11 8 8 5 5 4 4 1 40 48 42 26 36 29 30 20 26 7 6 18 25 29 26 33 33 37 37 39 22 24 7 5 11 31 21 28 23 36 25 64 65
Conservation groups Local watershed authority Your municipal government First Nations Your provincial government The federal government Your provincial power authority Forestry companies Agri-business Oil & gas companies Mining companies
A lot Some Unsure A little None
71 29 35 65 33 67
We need to invest in stricter regulation, monitoring and enforcement to protect fresh water. Voluntary action and cooperation with industry would be the most effective approach to protecting water quality. To truly solve environmental problems, governments and experts need to take the lead. Governments follow, not lead; to truly solve environmental problems, individual citizens need to step up. Local watershed boards should be appointed by political leaders, & comprised of experts, business & gov’t officials. Local watershed boards should be comprised exclusively of local citizens & experts, selected through a formal jury process.
Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view? (%)
8 34 45 46 47 49 49 55 31 41 42 43 44 38 44 33 30 15 8 6 5 10 4 7 26 6 2 1 1 1 1 2
Strongly favour Somewhat favour Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
Ensure that the protection of nature and natural ecosystems are always a top priority Set strict province-wide rules and standards for water protection and management Use science to inform decision-making, and ensure that the public has access to the data Require that decision-makers involve the public at the community level in water licencing decisions Provide communities with access to expertise, data, resources to make informed decisions Require the active monitoring and reporting of all water use by industry and municipalities Charge a fee for industrial water use Charge a modest fee for household water use to encourage conservation
93% 87% 91% 89% 87% 75% 39%
Please say much would you FAVOUR or OPPOSE each of the following… (%)
88%
Do you consider yourself an environmentalist?
Yes 39% No 51% Other 10%