(Supplied by Angus Reid Institute)

By David Opinko

Jason Kenney is Canada’s least popular premier: Survey

Jun 9, 2021 | 12:34 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The popularity of Alberta’s premier is about half of what it was when he was first sworn into office two years ago.

A new study from polling agency Angus Reid Institute ranks the approval ratings of nine of Canada’s premiers. They note that data on P.E.I. is not included due to its small population.

With 4,948 Canadian adults polled in early June, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney garnered an approval rating of just 31 per cent.

That makes him the least popular premier in the country with Manitoba’s Brian Pallister slightly ahead at 33 per cent. Quebec’s Francois Legault and B.C.’s John Horgan were the most favoured.

Angus Reid writes that Kenney has endured months of criticism and anger over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, although his popularity has steadily declined since first taking office in June 2019.

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At that time, 61 per cent gave him their thumbs up.

Just 28 per cent of the 600 respondents from Alberta said the provincial government has done a “good job” across 13 key issues. That number is the highest for environment/climate change, healthcare, and COVID-19 response but the lowest for drug use/addictions, poverty/homelessness, and housing affordability.

The survey also asked who people would vote for if an election were held today.

Among the 502 decided voters in Alberta, 41 per cent would case their ballot for the NDP while 30 per cent would try to re-elect the United Conservative Party. 20 per cent would vote for the Wildrose Independence Party.

The next Alberta provincial elections are set to be held in 2023.

More details from the survey can be found here.

(Supplied by Angus Reid Institute)

(Supplied by Angus Reid Institute)

(Supplied by Angus Reid Institute)

(Supplied by Angus Reid Institute)