January 31, 2024 — New polling from Pollara Strategic Insights conducted on behalf of DoorDash shows how British Columbia voters feel about many of the app-based worker reforms being proposed by the British Columbia Government. While 60% support setting a minimum wage for app-based workers at BC’s current $16.75 minimum wage, this support falls to 39% when asked about the special minimum wage of $20.10 for app-based workers that has been proposed by the Eby government – with a plurality of voters (46%) opposing this.
When presented with arguments for and against a special minimum wage, twice as many British Columbians oppose (55%) rather than support (28%) this.
While views around the minimum wage are mixed, there is largely consensus around many of the other reforms, including: allowing app-based workers to keep 100% of their tips (support 84% / oppose 6%), fair and transparent deactivation procedures (support 77% / oppose 8%), and pay transparency before accepting orders (support 71% / oppose 16%).
“British Columbians want fairness, and the same minimum wage for all workers seems fair to them,” said Dan Arnold, Pollara’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Cost of living pressures are squeezing British Columbians from all directions, and the last thing they want are reforms that mean higher costs every time they order food or a ride.”
The debate around app-based worker reforms comes at a time when the cost of living is the number one issue facing the province. The survey found 47% of British Columbians expect their household income will fall behind the cost of living this year, while only 8% expect it will more than keep pace with the cost of living. Half (50%) feel the policies of the provincial government and six-in-ten (60%) feel the policies of the federal government are making life harder for them.
These findings come from an online survey of 2,000 adult British Columbians conducted from January 8th to 16th, 2024. See the full findings and survey methodology in our report.
