Okanagan sunflowers on Know Mountain in Kelowna.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

A recent online survey found a 10 per cent surge in the number of B.C. residents who think the province would be better off as its own country.

The Research Co. surveyed 800 people in B.C. between July 22 to July 24 and found 27 per cent agreed with a statement saying B.C. would be better off as its own country, up 10 per cent from last year, according to a media release. On the flip side, 65 per cent of those surveyed disagreed with separation.

“The results on whether the province would be better off as its own country are higher than in 2018 and 2019, but lower than what we have observed in Quebec and Alberta in years past,” Research Co. president Mario Canseco said in the release.

In a survey his company did in 2018, 34 per cent of Quebec residents felt the province would be better off as its own country, while 30 per cent of Albertans felt that way in 2019.

The recent B.C. survey found that 58 per cent felt they had more in common with residents of Seattle and Portland than those living in Toronto or Montreal.

Still, 63 per cent said they felt they were Canadians first and British Columbians second.

The vast majority, 81 per cent, are very proud of B.C. and 74 per cent expect to stay for the rest of their lives.

When it comes to leadership, Premier John Horgan is seen as the best premier since 1986 by 22 per cent of respondents, up eight per cent from last year.

Bill Vander Zalm rose seven per cent to 14 per cent for second place, while Christy Clark came in with nine per cent (down two per cent). Gordon Campbell finished at seven per cent (down five per cent). Mike Harcourt also got seven per cent of the vote, (down one per cent).

The margin of error is cited at +/-3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of 20.

For more on Research Co. and the poll, go here.

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