Vancouverties reject city plan to ban natural gas

More than half of eligible voters in Vancouver oppose attempts by Vancouver City Hall to ban the use of natural gas by 2050, according to a new survey.

The survey by the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association also found that 51 percent of eligible voters in Vancouver believe that the plan by the City of Vancouver to reduce reliance on all fossil fuels; phasing them out entirely by 2050 “unrealistic”.

Released in advance of the 2017 BC provincial elections, 40 percent of the survey respondents who tended to favour the environment when it comes to policy trade-offs, opposed the City of Vancouver’s plan to ban natural gas, while 28 percent supported it.

Support for the city’s plan is highest among those who typically vote for Vision Vancouver, but even in that group only 3-in-10 (30%) say they support the idea, the poll found.

This data, gathered from a randomized sample of 306 City of Vancouver residents on important issues in the BC election was commissioned by the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association and conducted by Innovative Research Group (INNOVATIVE).

Key findings of the survey include:

• Almost half of voters (46%) have heard about the debate over effectively banning

natural gas in the City of Vancouver.

A majority of voters are opposed to banning natural gas by 2050:

•  Just 21% say they support the idea of banning natural gas by 2050 (only 7% strongly support),

while 56% are opposed (including 35% who are strongly opposed). Support is highest among

those who typically vote for Vision Vancouver, but even in that group only 3-in-10 (30%) say they support the idea.

• Even among those who tend to favour the environment when it comes to policy trade-offs, more are opposed to the policy (40%) than support it (28%)

• Voters are split on whether it is realistic in general to get off fossil fuels by 2050.

42% say it is realistic, while 51% say that it is unrealistic.

Vancouver City Hall has maintained that its new energy rules are designed to reduce emissions and that there is no ban on the use of natural gas. Its new Green Buildings Policy came into effect on May 1, sets energy efficiency and carbon pollution targets for most new buildings. However, FortisBC, and a host of industry players and individual homeowners, say that due to the new standards being imposed that they will have no choice but to pay more for natural gas or switch to the more expensive suite of options that the city says is available.

The B.C. Liberals have said, that if elected, they will overturn new rezoning policies by the City of Vancouver which will effectively ban the use of natural gas within city limits.

“The City of Vancouver’s plans which effectively ban natural gas ban does not align with the desires of the people of Vancouver,” says Ian Tostenson, President/CEO of the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA)

“I know the city says that they are not banning natural gas but they are on record saying they will ban all fossil fuels. Their words don't match their actions.”

“It would be our hope to sit with the Mayor and find a solution that is inclusive and respects the wishes of the citizens and small businesses in Vancouver,” he said.