Increasing trust in Vancouver's municipal government

This study examines levels of citizen trust toward local government among the Vancouver civic electorate. Using data from the first ever Vancouver Civic Election Exit Poll, this study finds that civic voter trust in Vancouver government is low with only 40 percent of those surveyed being highly trustful of their local government. In testing which institutional and cultural variables might cause some citizens to have high trust, regression analysis suggests that institutional theories present the most convincing explanation. Individuals who believe that current government consultation and information provision systems are reflective of their demands, also demonstrate high levels of trust. Recommended policies to increase trust include increasing opportunities for citizen input, making input more meaningful, and increasing the amount of budget information consumed by the citizenry.