Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Alberta Premier Alison Redford speak to the media on Feb. 27, 2013. Both Premiers are pushing for Keystone approval with American lawmakers and industry leaders.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Once again, Brad Wall is the most popular premier in Canada. And his competition isn't even close, according to a new poll.
An Angus Reid poll out today showed 64 per cent of Saskatchewan respondents were happy with Mr. Wall's performance. The second-ranked premier this time was New Brunswick's David Alward, whose approval rating jumped six points to 41 per cent.
Angus Reid's provincial approval-rating polls, conducted every few months, have consistently had Mr. Wall in the mid-sixties.
The major shock is Alberta Premier Alison Redford, whose approval rating among Angus Reid's respondents plummeted to 29 per cent – a decline of 18 points from three months ago, and 26 per cent since last August.
Most premiers found their approval rates declining, with even a little shine coming off Mr. Wall. He dropped three points, B.C. Premier Christy Clark lost six points, Manitoba's Greg Selinger and Quebec's Pauline Marois both dropped eight points, and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale fell 12 points. Both Ms. Dunderdale and Ms. Clark are at the lowest approval ratings with 25 per cent.
One of the few to increase her support was Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, whose 36 per cent approval rating (which still only puts her in the middle of the pack) is nevertheless 13 points up from her predecessor Dalton McGuinty, who left office amid scandal.
Angus Reid surveyed 7,091 online panelists, with the results demographically weighted. The margin of error is 1.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Angus Reid also asked respondents about provincial opposition leaders. On the whole, they had much stronger support than the government leaders. Newfoundland NDP Leader Lorraine Michael had a 61-per-cent approval rating, followed by Alberta Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith with 53 per cent. Nearly half of their province's respondents approved of Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix and Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil.
Chris Hannay