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Study results

Times Are Changing and Opinions Matter

By Bruce Cameron

Salt Spring Insights 2022 Year End Highlights title slide over an aerial view of a Salt Spring Island harbour

Salt Spring Insights, an online research panel created in 2022 to enhance the quality of conversations taking place on Salt Spring, has concluded its first year. The Salt Spring Insights online research panel is structured to represent Salt Spring residents by key demographics and regions on the island. And it has proven very accurate at capturing the mood here.

A lot happened on Salt Spring in 2022; you told us you were happy, but have serious concerns about housing affordability, and you questioned the value you are receiving for the tax dollars you pay and approved borrowing to build a new fire hall. Here are some of the highlights revealed by Salt Spring Insights panelists.

The mood is upbeat but concerned

  • Salt Spring Islanders are happy with their quality of life (87%), but concerns include access to affordable housing, providing more services and facilities, building better road and ferry infrastructure, and the perennial issue of improving the governance structure. The doctor shortage, improved walking and cycling paths and the need to build community spirit were also cited.
  • Perceived value for tax dollars paid to different providers varies, with fire services rating the highest (62% good value), while less than half of residents think they get good value for the taxes they pay for CRD transit or parks & recreation services. About four in 10 think the school board provides good value, while water services are rated most poorly in terms of taxpayer value.

The new fire hall was approved by 75% of voters, exactly what we predicted

  • Taxpayer approval was required to borrow the money necessary to build a new fire hall. Given the numerous failed attempts to win approval in previous years, the campaign to seek approval in late June 2022 was closely watched. Salt Spring Insights correctly predicted that 75% of voters would approve the project.

Despite uncertainty about the concept, a local community council was approved

  • Prior to the referendum in the fall of 2022, Salt Spring Insights asked participants whether they approve or disapprove of the concept. Almost four in 10 approved of the idea, about one-third were unsure and just under a third were opposed. Excluding those who were unsure, Salt Spring Insights revealed the idea would be passed, which it was, by 61% to 39%.

Who says nothing ever changes on Salt Spring?

A new fire hall, a new emergency department, approval of the Vortex project, creation of a new 75-acre public park on the northeast slope of Hwmet’utsum/Mt. Maxwell, the passage of the LCC concept. You can add your voice to the important conversations taking place in 2023 by signing up to become a Salt Spring Insights panelist.

2022 year-end summary

Read the full details of the report summary below.

Methodology. Salt Spring Insights is an online research panel created to reflect a representative cross section of Salt Spring residents by age, gender and region on the island, based upon known Statistics Canada categories. Results of the online surveys are accurate at a 95% confidence margin to within plus or minus 7 to 8 per cent; 19 times out of 20, the results would be within 7 to 8 per cent of a complete census of opinion.
Profile of participants by region and years lived on Salt Spring, base 238 participants. Region: in or near Ganges 21%, Mid Island 18%, West Side 16%, Central 14%, North End 13%, South End 11%. Years lived on the island: 5 years or less 28%, 6 to 10 years 17%, 11 to 15 years 9%, 16 to 25 years 20%, 26 to 35 years 15%, 36 or more years 11%.
Profile of participants by age range, base 238 participants: 18 to 34, 15%; 35 to 54, 25%; 55 to 64, 21%; 65 to 74, 21%; 75 and over, 16%.
Quality of life is high among Salt Spring Islanders, base 238 participants. Nine out of ten residents (87%) rate the quality of life on Salt Spring as good (46%) or very good (41%). One third (33%) say building more affordable housing or improving the affordability of rental housing would improve quality of life. Providing more facilities and services, improving roads and pathways, changing the system of governance, and adding doctors were also offered as solutions.
There is strong support for borrowing to build a new firehall. Asked whether the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District should be given authority to borrow a maximum of $9.7 million over no more than 25 years to fund a new fire hall: yes 75%, no 13%, unsure or won't vote 12%. Base 157 participants.
A slight majority support the Local Community Commission proposal. Asked how they feel about establishing an elected Local Community Commission on Salt Spring in addition to a CRD Director: strongly support 23%, somewhat support 15%, neutral 13%, somewhat oppose 12%, strongly oppose 18%, unsure 19%. Base 157 participants.

Bruce Cameron is President of the strategic communications firm Return On Insight and co-founder of Salt Spring’s own consumer opinion panel, Salt Spring Insights.