Saskatchewan’s Wall Becomes Most Popular Premier in Canada
Brad Wall has become the most popular provincial head of government in Canada, a new Vision Critical / Angus Reid poll conducted with the Toronto Star and La Presse has found.
The online survey of a representative national sample of 6,482 Canadian adults asked respondents in nine provinces about the performance of their current premiers. Almost two thirds of people in Saskatchewan (63%) approve of the way Wall has handled his duties.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale—who took office from Danny Williams in early December—is second on the list with 55 per cent, followed by New Brunswick Premier David Alward with 42 per cent. Alward has gained 10 points since an Angus Reid survey conducted in November 2010.
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger gets positive reviews from one third of respondents in his province (34%, +6 since November). Nova Scotia’s Darrell Dexter has gained six points, and his approval rating is now at 26 per cent. There is virtually no fluctuation in the bottom four, with Alberta’s Ed Stelmach remaining at 21 per cent, Ontario’s Dalton McGuinty and British Columbia’s Gordon Campbell at 16 per cent each, and Quebec’s Jean Charest at 13 per cent.
Analysis
At least four Canadian provinces will hold elections this year, and the results are mixed for the current heads of government that are seeking a fresh term. Wall has maintained high numbers throughout the past year in Saskatchewan, and Dunderdale begins her tenure with the backing of a majority of Newfoundlanders. Manitoba’s Selinger has gained some points over the past quarter, while McGuinty gets a positive review from one-in-six Ontarians.
Alward has markedly improved his standing in New Brunswick, and Dexter has improved in Nova Scotia. The two departing western premiers—British Columbia’s Campbell and Alberta’s Stelmach—show no movement. Campbell is expected to be replaced by new BC Liberals leader Christy Clark this month, while the new Progressive Conservative Party leader in Alberta will be revealed in September.
Charest, for the second consecutive quarter, is at the bottom of the list. Two thirds of respondents disapprove of the way he has handled his duties, and his approval rating has dropped by nine points in a year.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
Methodology: From February 11 to February 18, 2011, Vision Critical / Angus Reid conducted an online survey among 6,482 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 1.2%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
