A recent national poll indicates Prime Minister Mark Carney is receiving remarkably high approval ratings in Western Canada, with the Liberal Party maintaining a significant lead in voter support across the country. The Postmedia-Leger survey, conducted from February 27 to March 2, 2026, shows Carney's performance is viewed favorably by 61% of respondents, while 31% disapprove.
Western Provinces Show Strong Support for Carney
Western regions demonstrate particularly robust approval for the prime minister, with Saskatchewan and Manitoba both registering 59% approval ratings, while Alberta follows closely at 53%. This represents a dramatic shift from previous sentiment toward former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who faced substantial unpopularity in Western provinces before stepping down last year after nine years as Liberal leader.
Tangible Results Drive Positive Sentiment
Leger executive vice-president Andrew Enns attributes Carney's strong Western approval to concrete achievements resulting from collaborative efforts with provincial leaders. "Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has taken two international trips with Carney and has come back with results for his constituents," Enns noted, highlighting a rollback of Chinese tariffs on canola exports and a recent $2.6-billion deal to supply India with uranium from Saskatoon-based Cameco.
"He's coming back to Saskatchewan with some tangible success, and undoubtedly, Premier Moe is having to say good things about the prime minister to Saskatchewan residents," Enns explained, suggesting that Carney's approach of avoiding unnecessary conflicts with specific regions has contributed to his popularity.
Liberal Party Maintains National Lead
The poll reveals nearly half of Canadians would support the Liberals if an election were called today, with 49% of decided voters indicating they would vote for the party. Conservative support stands at 35%, representing a two-point increase for the Liberals and a three-point decline for the Conservatives since late January.
This marks the highest Liberal polling since February 2016, when the party under newly-elected Trudeau registered 49% support while Conservatives under interim leader Rona Ambrose polled at 27%.
Other Parties Trail Significantly
Support for other political parties remains comparatively low, with the Bloc Québécois falling to 5% in the latest poll compared to 6% in January. The New Democratic Party maintains stable support at 5%, while 59% of respondents express satisfaction with the performance of the Liberal government under Carney's leadership.
Consistent Conservative Support Presents Challenge
Enns characterized the poll results as "not good news" for the Conservatives, whose support has remained consistently between 37% and 38% over the past 18 months. "We're actually a full year in of having Prime Minister Carney managing the affairs of the government," Enns observed. "They've done a very good job of keeping government activity, government message, I would say, on track in terms of what Canadians are expecting of their government during these times."
The survey results suggest Carney's collaborative approach and focus on delivering measurable outcomes have resonated particularly well in regions that previously felt alienated by federal leadership, while maintaining broad national support for the Liberal Party as it approaches potential electoral contests.
