Four years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in B.C., Research Co. and Glacier Media wanted to gauge the economic recovery of households in the province. Just under one in four British Columbians (23 per cent, up two points since December 2022) tell us that their financial situation is better now than before the pandemic, while a third (33 per cent, unchanged) report no variation.

This leaves two in five British Columbians (40 per cent, down five points) who say their economic standing is worse now than before COVID-19. The situation is especially harsh for middle-aged residents, with almost half of respondents aged 35 to 54 (48 per cent) saying that their financial situation is worse now than four years ago.

In an election year, economic struggles are not universal across the province. Fewer than two in five residents of Metro Vancouver (39 per cent) and Vancouver Island (38 per cent) say their household is in a more precarious situation now than before the pandemic. The proportions are higher in three regions where the BC Liberals used to do well, and where BC United or the BC Conservatives........

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