Residents of Metro Vancouver Divided on Potential Mega-City Merger
The idea of merging the various municipalities in Metro Vancouver to form one major city is causing a divide among residents. A recent poll by Research Co. revealed that opinions are split right down the middle.
Interestingly, 42 percent of Metro Vancouverites are in favor of the mega-city concept, while an equal 42 percent oppose it. The city of Vancouver proper shows the highest support for the merger, with 46 percent of residents in favor. On the other hand, areas such as Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody demonstrate the lowest level of support, averaging around 32 percent.
In terms of neighboring cities, 43 percent of North and West Vancouver residents believe merging with the larger sister city is a positive idea.
Mario Canseco, President of Research Co., highlighted the findings, noting that “Residents of the City of Vancouver boast the highest level of support for the creation of an amalgamated Metro Vancouver (46%),” and added, “The appetite for full amalgamation drops across all other regions.”
Age also plays a significant role in opinions, with 47 percent of individuals aged 18 to 54 supporting the idea of a mega-city, compared to only 34 percent of those over 55.
While the concept of a mega-city may not be universally popular, there is more enthusiasm for smaller-scale mergers. A striking 70 percent of Metro Vancouverites are in favor of merging the Township of Langley with the City of Langley, while 62 percent support the merger of Pitt Meadows with Maple Ridge.
Moreover, the idea of amalgamating Surrey and White Rock has gained momentum, with a recent petition by local business owners urging politicians to consider unifying the two cities. Nearly 600 people have already signed the petition, reflecting the 57 percent of residents in both cities who support the merger.