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With the benefit of history, new immigrants used to be considered a Liberal Party shoo-in largely because changes/programs for new immigrants (at least, those arriving with no money) were Liberal party programs.
That seems to have changed/been forgotten. Remember that Punjabi is the THIRD most common language in Parliament now, and many of those are elected as Conservatives.
I wouldn't say the lower mainland is liberal as much as we're dealing with government programs that are already fifty years old and somewhat entrenched.
We have a parliamentary system where what's elected local is often opposed by who we may vote for on other levels. It's kind of the same as having two or more religions and thinking nothing of it.
Sorry if I'm supposed to wait a while before making another topic. I'm just wondering though, is most of Vancouver as well as the outskirt suburbs on the left of the political spectrum? Also, would you say that most people in Vancouver are fairly intelligent? And is Vancouver a very artistic and cultured city? Thanks, and again, sorry if this post is too soon
I would say that Vancouver is absolutely highly "liberal" (in the American sense of the word not in the Liberal Party of Canada sense of word). But it varies a lot.
Socially, most of Vancouver is liberal and "Progressive", with the except of certain suburbs where social conservatism reigns, as well as in certain ethnic groups that lean socially conservative.
I'm not sure what you mean by "fairly intelligent"? I can't tell if that's a trolling type question or a real one.
Politically, however, and on economic issues, conservatism is strong in certain parts of the city (the richer West side) and in certain suburbs.
I find Vancouver's arts and culture scene to be weak and not nearly what it could be, compared to other cities of its size in Canada and abroad. I think Vancouver has a poor scene in that regard.
I would say that Vancouver is absolutely highly "liberal" (in the American sense of the word not in the Liberal Party of Canada sense of word). But it varies a lot.
Socially, most of Vancouver is liberal and "Progressive", with the except of certain suburbs where social conservatism reigns, as well as in certain ethnic groups that lean socially conservative.
I'm not sure what you mean by "fairly intelligent"? I can't tell if that's a trolling type question or a real one.
Politically, however, and on economic issues, conservatism is strong in certain parts of the city (the richer West side) and in certain suburbs.
I find Vancouver's arts and culture scene to be weak and not nearly what it could be, compared to other cities of its size in Canada and abroad. I think Vancouver has a poor scene in that regard.
Vancouver and San Francisco have similar politics in my opinion with San Fran having a vastly superior gay scene, job market, and arts scene.
Both have conservative and liberal suburbs....I prefer San Fran to Vancouver -- in Canada I find Montreal to be far more progressive socially than Vancouver
I love this thread. I am a pretty left leaning man currently living in Memphis, TN. I will be moving to the Vancouver area with the next couple of months. Its good to know that even the Conservatives in Canada aren't nearly as far right as the ones here. I'm sure, politically, BC will be a breath of fresh air.
Funny, I hit a few restaurants on Commercial Dr and other places which some of the regulars here have characterized as some of the more liberal areas. In talking with people in the 18 - 30 age group they have almost universally told me their parents are more liberal than they are. Either people get more liberal there over time or the city is destined to become a lot more conservative.
Sorry if I'm supposed to wait a while before making another topic. I'm just wondering though, is most of Vancouver as well as the outskirt suburbs on the left of the political spectrum? Also, would you say that most people in Vancouver are fairly intelligent? And is Vancouver a very artistic and cultured city? Thanks, and again, sorry if this post is too soon
I would call this city Nazi Liberal. As in if you attempt to voice an opinion that differs from the Liberal majority, you get shut down. Try it yourself. Tell a bunch of Vancouverites you don't accept the idea of a gay marriage. Enough said. It's almost like these people completely lost the idea of democracy whose entire point is to allow people to voice different opinions. It truly repulses me.
Funny, I hit a few restaurants on Commercial Dr and other places which some of the regulars here have characterized as some of the more liberal areas. In talking with people in the 18 - 30 age group they have almost universally told me their parents are more liberal than they are. Either people get more liberal there over time or the city is destined to become a lot more conservative.
Meh, it's hard to know... Vancouver in the 60's was home to draft dodgers and all kinds of hippies who lived in communes and were politically extremely left of center... you know, ready to pick up and protest and fight and become extremely active in the public realm. That kind of extremism has sort of fallen out of fashion. Their children, I'm sure, aren't purposely leaning to the conservative side of things, it's just that when you put it into context, in comparison to their parents, anybody would look less liberal.
Vancouver has had a big influx of very wealthy immigrants/migrants from all over the world (including elsewhere in Canada) over the past few decades... many who have moved here to make an investment in property... these people typically favour the economy over environment and culture... it's this that brings Vancouver into the political conservative spectrum, not the Vancouverites who play into the Commercial Drive archetype. And by conservative, I also include people who vote Liberal... the Liberal party in Vancouver are about privatization and economic development at the expense of public schooling, health care, the environment, etc. It's the people moving here who are using real estate solely for investment strategies... these are the people killing the soul of the city, in my opinion. They're not here to add value to the community... they're not here to become a part of the community, they're simply here to make money... and they'll vote whichever way gets them the most money for their property.
Makes sense, what I saw is a definite trickle down effect of that wealth however, be it to store owners, restauranteurs, contractors, tourism related, etc. Over time the wealthy and their generally more conservative views tends to rub off on their business beneficiaries who in turn have become financially comfortable. If they become ultra wealthy they go liberal again.
I am from Nanaimo, BC, second to only Victoria in terms of population on Vancouver Island. I have spent approximately 5 years living in Vancouver where I have gone to school at UBC and sent time in the community doing various things. I have also spent a couple years living in Fort St John BC and have spent time in Victoria and its periphery as I have family there.
First, I want to give several definitions of liberalness.
Definition 1: Acceptance of drugs, rejection of literalist christianity with most families moving away from christianity and/or leaving it altogether and fewer joining christianity, favouring socialist economics, pro public healthcare and education, acceptance of sexual experimentation.
Definition 2: Acceptance of views not in accordance with their own. Willingness to engage with people different from themselves. Ability to experiment and try new ways of being.
In my opinion, Northern BC is the most conservative but i think this also varies by city. Fort st john is known for being particularly bad for this. As an atheist myself, being forced to make friends with christians whose mothers openly spoke about god to me for hours, I hated living there. Also a very xenophobic place. I think Fort st john fails on both definitions. The rest of northern bc is probably not so different minus MAYBE prince george.
Vancouver vs Vancouver Island: I think that based on definition 1, Vancouver actually has less religious people, but many are chinese. So this might be deceptive. Vancouver favours free market capitalism i think a lot more than people generally from the island with the highest concentration of liberal type people in the rich part of nanaimo and dispersed throughout victoria. Huge populations of socialist NDP leaning people on the island though. Vancouver too, but i think both nanaimo and victoria win in this regard. I think the same can be said about being pro-healthcare. As far as acceptance of drugs goes, i think that Victoria and Nanaimo hands down win this one. There are large pockets of people who are into weed and all that other **** in van and its not hard to track down, but its hard for it not to track you down on the island. Sexual experimentation: Considering the fact that western countries as a rule tend to be fairly sexual, the huge immigration numbers in van have watered van down for sexual openness. Again, island wins. I have witnessed a lot more slutshaming in van than i would've expected. I think this is a similar reasoning for why i see weed more often on the island.
Based on definition number two, I am torn becuase i generally find the island a much more open community with better dialogue. People actually talk to each other. However, i think the assumptions on the island that are generally accepted lean further left than in van. Socially, you can say socially conservative things and get away with it in van. EXCEPT bashing gay marriage and being racist.. However, you will lose friends for that on the island very quickly as well. Racism on the island, people dont care as much. I think in that regard, the island is generally more conservative. So, i think van might actually tie the island by this definition as van is going through an identity crisis with all the immigration. The island is fairly stable. Foreigner ideas will be less acceptable, but i will say this about islanders, many of them will actually take hte time to be open in discussing your ideas with you. but they will have wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy more internal resistance to them becuase they will have likely had less exposure to far right ideas except through crazy fox news media.
Tldr; The island in most respects including victoria and van is most liberal. Vancouver is probably most liberal in the lets accept everybody and not judge standards and northern bc is just Albertan conservative. Sorry i didnt mention the okanogan. I havent spent enough time there to know.
For someone who claims to be a local, your viewpoints seem very foreign, as if you read a bit about these areas but really don't understand them.
Also it's " OKANAGAN " not okanogan.
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Cities and Liberalism in BC
