It's certainly not scientific.
Our two-week Survey Monkey online poll was intended as a snapshot of Burnaby voters' opinions - and as selfies go, we think it captured the feelings of many city voters.
The Kinder Morgan pipeline shot to the top of the poll - not surprising given all the media coverage we've been giving the conflict. But, we believe, it also indicates a growing environmental awareness and deep concerns about what an expanded pipeline and oil tanker traffic would mean to both the inlet and city. However, it's important to note that the survey did not ask if folks were for or against the pipeline, merely if it was a top issue. We suspect it's an anti-pipeline vote as well, but we could be wrong.
Below the pipeline came affordable housing, and right below that came homelessness and poverty. It's not that we don't think those are top issues in this city, but we also have to note that there was an email push by the Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness to make sure that folks voted for those issues. Online surveys, of course, are vulnerable to being "plumped" by folks. And ours is no exception. But isn't that all part of democracy in action? If you phone your like-minded friends and tell them to vote - well, good for you.
We were a bit surprised that "one party rule, lack of opposition" came as high as it did. The Burnaby Citizens' Association has a lock on civic and school politics, and while folks may have qualms about it, it never seems to translate into enough votes to even get one non-BCA slate member elected. Could that change? Perhaps, but it's highly unlikely.
Burnaby Hospital, property taxes and development came relatively high, not surprising. We'll be exploring those issues as we cover the election campaign.
Crime was close to the bottom - clearly not a hot-button issue in this city. Perhaps we should be grateful for that when we compare ourselves to Surrey, where crime seems to be the top hot-button issue.
