In yet another example of how rapidly things can change in politics, New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant has seen his job approval rating plummet 13 percentage points in three months, a new poll suggests.
Meanwhile, new Alberta Premier Rachel Notley appears to be basking in a post-election honeymoon.
According to the latest quarterly survey from the Angus Reid Institute, Gallant now sits at 27 per cent approval, down from 40 per cent in March. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger remains Canada’s least popular premier at just 23 per cent approval.
Gallant, who won a majority for New Brunswick Liberals last September, appears to be taking heat for his government’s efforts to save $600 million by raising revenues and slashing programs. Angus Reid notes that some cost-cutting measures — notably, spikes to nursing home fees — have been deeply unpopular in the province.
But Gallant has walked his talk, too, announcing in February that he and his cabinet members would take pay cuts.
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Least, Most Popular Premiers (June, 2015)
Notley, who in May won the right to lead the first NDP government in Alberta’s history, has an approval rating of 53 per cent. They're numbers strong enough to make her the second most popular premier in the country behind perennial top dog, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall at 61 per cent.
Notley was sworn in as premier on May 24. The survey was taken before a throne speech last week that signaled higher taxes for large corporations and the wealthy, as well as bills to ban corporate and union political donations.
It remains to be seen how her numbers might change in three months.
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil, once considered a contender for most popular premier, is down six percentage points from March to 37 per cent approval.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has also dropped five points within the same period to sit at 31 per cent, while British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has declined three points to 30 per cent.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is up four points in three months, now sitting at 39 per cent approval. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Paul Davis, who is headed for a provincial election this November, is also at 39 per cent.
Angus Reid Global does not measure the approval rating of the Prince Edward Island premier because the sample size for that province is too small. Wade MacLauchlan won a majority government in that province last month.
The survey was conducted online among 6,291 Angus Reid Forum panelists between May 26 and June 7. Similar surveys have a margin of error of 1.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
