New polling released today by McAllister Opinion Research shows that a majority of Kootenay residents do not want to see a luxury ski resort built in the Jumbo valley.  In the survey, residents of the Kootenay region were asked their opinion on whether a proposed ski resort development should be allowed to proceed in the Jumbo valley or if the area should be kept wild. 63% of Kootenay residents say they want to see the Jumbo Valley kept wild, while just 19 per cent say they want the ski resort development to proceed.  Another 7 percent are neutral and 11 percent have no opinion.

The findings are based on a random digit dial telephone survey of 910 Kootenay residents in the BC provincial ridings of Columbia-Revelstoke, Nelson-Creston and Kootenay-East, conducted in September and October 2008.

The poll found majority support for keeping the Jumbo valley wild among supporters of each of the major provincial parties.

“People have expressed themselves clearly once again by more than a three to one margin,” said John Bergenske, executive director of Wildsight. Wildsight has opposed a ski resort proposal for the Jumbo Valley since 1991. “Every other poll and plebiscite has indicated residents’ strong opposition to the Jumbo Glacier Resort. Why would this one be different?”

Bergenske said the polling, which was conducted by an independent Vancouver research firm, will help counter the distortions of public opinion that the resort proponent has disseminated. McAllister Opinion Research conducts surveys on behalf of all levels of government, industry and organizations across North America.

“This poll is statistically valid and represents the greater population,” said Angus McAllister, President of McAllister Opinion Research. “This research is based on a random sample of 910 telephone interviews, which is larger than many of the national election polls currently being conducted in the United States. The total margin for error is plus or minus 3.2 per cent.”

“Wildsight hopes that decision-makers at all levels will take into account the clear desire expressed by people across the Kootenays for a wild Jumbo valley,” Bergenske said.

“The regional elections are almost here. These poll results are like a gift to candidates. There is no doubt as to how to represent residents of the Kootenays in regard to the future of Jumbo.”

John Bergenske
Wildsight Executive Director
john@wildsight.ca