A new poll suggests that British Columbians are more interested in spending on health and education than paying down the province's debt or cutting taxes.

The online Ipsos poll, for Global TV, asked the following question:

"On which one of the following three items would you like to see the provincial government place the greatest priority over the next few years?"

Forty-six per cent of respondents replied "increasing funding for services such as health and education"; 35 per cent replied "reducing the provincial debt" and 15 per cent said "lowering taxes." A further four per cent said they didn't know.

The poll also asked: "If elected, how well do you think each of the parties would do at balancing resource development and environmental protection"?

Thirty-nine per cent said Adrian Dix and the BC NDP would strike about the right balance between development and the environment, while 29 per cent said the party would put too much focus on the environment.

Thirty per cent said Christy Clark and the Liberals would strike the right balance, while 49 per cent said they would put too much focus on resource development.

Fifteen per cent said John Cummins and the BC Conservatives would strike the right balance, while 35 per cent said they would put too much focus on resource development; 47 per cent said they didn't know.

Twelve per cent said Jane Sterk and the Green party would strike the right balance, while 61 per cent said the Greens would put too much focus on the environment.

The poll was conducted Monday, April 22 and April 23, among 455 adult British Columbians drawn from a panel assembled by Ipsos. The company states a margin of error of plus or minus 4.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20. For more on polling methodology and controversies, see this story.

Find Tyee election reporting team member and contributing editor Tom Barrett's previous Tyee articles here. Find him on Twitter or email him.